PM Modi pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, at New Delhi's Rajghat on Friday, October 2, 2020.Gandhi Jayanti 2020: In his address to the nation on the eve of the birth anniversary of national icons Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shahstri Wednesday, President Ram Nath Kovind appealed to people to follow the Gandhian ideals of truth and non-violence. He also asked citizens to make efforts for a clean and prosperous India.
Kovind said that Gandhi’s message of truth, non-violence and love paves the way for the welfare of the world by bringing harmony and equality in the society.
To mark the occasion, the Gujarat government has organised a programme in which around 5 lakh women will wash their hands to spread the message of cleanliness and importance of frequently washing hands in the times of Covid-19 pandemic. The programme, to be organised under the aegis of Women & Child Development department, was announced by senior minister of the department, Ganpat Vasava, Wednesday. Vasava said that the programme will be held at around 3,800 locations and a state-level function will be held in Gandhinagar. A number of district level programmes will be attended by several ministers.
Also, The National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune, in association with the Regional Outreach Bureau (Maharashtra and Goa) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is organising a 48-day-long series of webinars, starting on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) and ending on Naturopathy Day (November 18). The webinars will be on the theme ‘Mahatma Gandhi– The Healer’, and are intended to propagate the relevance of Gandhi‘s thoughts on health and nutrition in the 21st century.
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, a group of journalists in Tripura donned black ribbons as a mark of protest over Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s comments against the media and his alleged assault on freedom of expression. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Tripura’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Sabroom on September 11, Deb had said that a section of ‘over-excited newspapers are trying to confuse people over COVID-19’ and that he would not forgive such newspapers ever. Read full report by Debraj Deb here
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi his birth anniversary at Temple Trees in Sri Lanka along with officers of the High Commission of India, said the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa paid glowing tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, on his 151st birth anniversary here on Friday. They also paid their respects to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. Congress leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy too paid homage to the Mahatma and Shastri. The governor garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Raj Bhavan.
Offering his tribute to Gandhiji, Chief Minister said, "Let us pay our unending respects to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary who marched on the path of Satyagraha in the glow of truth and non-violence and gifted us freedom." (PTI)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Speaker Ram Niwas Goel paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Delhi Assembly on Friday on his 151st birth anniversary. They also paid floral tributes to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. Speaking on the occasion, Goel said Gandhi's belief in a simple life had been a beacon of hope for the marginalised people.
"Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India's independence movement. Achievements of his life are unique in political history," the Speaker said. Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bidlan, minister Rajendra Pal Gautam and others also paid tributes on the occasion. (PTI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday said Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of a 'Ram Rajya' (an ideal society) in the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to turn the Father of the Nation's vision into reality. Speaking on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, Rupani termed the under-construction a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as the "manifestation of Ram Rajya" as envisioned by the Father of the Nation.
"Gandhiji believed in Lord Ram. Ram Rajya was Gandhiji's idea. Even his last words were 'Hey Ram'. "Lord Ram had all the qualities of a perfect ruler. He was pro-people and loved his citizens. That is why Lord Ram's rule was considered as ideal and that is why Gandhiji dreamed of Ram Rajya," said Rupani. "But unfortunately, some people attached Lord Ram with only one religion and created unnecessary controversies, which was driving us away from Ram Rajya. But, I am glad that the Ram Mandir (in Ayodhya) is now emerging as a manifestation of Ram Rajya and our PM is trying to make India as envisioned by Gandhiji," the BJP leader said.
An all-religion prayer meet was organised at the Sabarmati Ashram here on Friday morning on the occasion of 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with only a handful of people attending the event due to the coronavirus outbreak. In view of the pandemic, only a limited number of Ashram residents attended the prayer meet held in premises of the Sabarmati Ashram, also called the Gandhi Ashram, said its director Atul Pandya.
The Ashram, currently closed for visitors due to the pandemic, was the home of Mahatma Gandhi between 1917 and 1930 and closely linked with India's freedom struggle. It is managed by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust. "We have an old tradition of organising an all- religion prayer meet on Gandhi Jayanti. Normally, citizens and students are invited to attend it. "But this time, due to coronavirus, only a few Ashram residents were allowed to attend the prayer meet," said Pandya.
He said all COVID-19-related protocols and social distancing norms were followed at the prayer meet and no other event was scheduled at the Ashram on Friday. The trust website telecast the prayer meet live so that others could attend it virtually, he said. (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary and wondered whether freedom and democracy achieved by him and other freedom fighters will be given away so easily by the countrymen. She said Gandhiji's philosophy has become more relevant now than ever before.
"Homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary. Icons like Gandhiji, Netaji, Tagore, Maulana Azad, Ambedkar & others tirelessly fought for freedom & democracy. Are we going to give it away so easily? Bapu's philosophy has become more relevant now than ever before," she tweeted. "In remembrance of Gandhiji's philosophy of Ahimsa, today we also celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence. To this regard, #GoWB is setting up a university dedicated to Gandhiji in Purba Medinipur district. Let us spread Bapu's message amongst the younger generations," she said in another tweet.
Calling Mahatma Gandhi the "biggest sympathiser" of farmers, labourers and the working class, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday expressed confidence that the agitation against three recently enacted "black laws" in the agriculture sector will become successful and the peasants will emerge victorious. Paying rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary, she said while the Mahatma was the biggest sympathiser of farmers, labourers and the working class, Shastri gave the slogan of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'.
The Congress president's remarks came in the form of a video message on a day her party is staging dharnas in every district across the country in favour of farmers and against the three farm laws. Noting that Mahatma Gandhi used to say that the soul of India resides in India's villages, fields and barns, she said the country's farmers and farm labourers are agitating on the streets against the three "anti-farmer black laws".
"The Modi government is making the farmers cry tears of blood, even though they grow foodgrains for the country with their sweat," she said. "But does the Modi government believe in this? Perhaps the Modi government does not remember that it was not able to change the 'Right to Adequate Compensation Law' for rights of farmers through an ordinance. The Congress party will continue to fight against the three black laws. Today our workers are agitating in favour of farmers and labourers in every assembly constituency. I want to say with confidence that this agitation of farmers and the Congress will be successful and the farmers will win," she said in her video message. (PTI)
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary on Friday.
"Time has revealed that Satyagraha and non-violence are the best paths to adopt. Be it individuals, institutions or countries, it is now believed that there is a better, alternative and a human way to express dissent and to register protest," writes Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel. Read the opinion here
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary and said that there is a lot to learn from his life and thoughts. In a tweet, PM Modi said, “We bow to beloved Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. There is much to learn from his life and noble thoughts.” “May Bapu’s ideals keep guiding us in creating a prosperous and compassionate India,” he added. Read more
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi said that she believes that the agitation by the farmers and the Congress leaders will be successful. In a video message, Sonia said, "Today when we are observing birth anniversary of #MahatmaGandhi & #LalBahadurShastri, farmers are protesting against 3 'anti-farmer' laws. I believe that agitation by farmers & Congress will be successful & farmers will emerge victorious."
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, on his 151st birth anniversary at Rajghat here. They also paid homage to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary at Vijay Ghat. Modi in his tributes to Mahatma Gandhi said there is much to learn from his life and thoughts. May Bapu's ideals keep guiding us in creating a prosperous and compassionate India, he said.
President Kovind was accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as they paid tributes at Shastri's memorial at Vijay Ghat. An interfaith prayer was held and Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajans "Vaishanv Jan To" and "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram" were rendered as dignitaries paid homage at his memorial at Rajghat. Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Gajendra Singh Shekahawt, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad were among others who paid homage to the father of the nation at Rajghat. (PTI)
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday paid tributes to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary, saying he steered the nation through critical times with his exemplary leadership. Shastri, the second prime minister of India, was born in 1904 in Uttar Pradesh. "Shri Shastri was an epitome of simplicity, humility and wisdom. He steered the nation through critical times with his exemplary leadership," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 151st birth anniversary, at Rajghat in New Delhi, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. (PTI Photos)
Mahatma Gandhi showed us the path of truth and selfless service, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday. Gandhi was born on this day in 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat. Remembering Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, Naidu said, "Bapu, through his life and teachings showed us the path of truth, love and selfless service to mankind." Gandhi's idea of 'Antyodaya' guides us to work for the uplift of the last person, Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by quoting him. "I will not fear anyone in the world ... I will not bow down to anyone's injustice, I shall win the lie with the truth and I shall bear all the sufferings while opposing the lie," Gandhi tweeted.
While paying tributes to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he epitomised simplicity and lived for the welfare of our nation. "Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji was humble and firm. He epitomised simplicity and lived for the welfare of our nation. We remember him on his Jayanti with a deep sense of gratitude for everything he has done for India," he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary on Friday and said that there is much to learn from his life and noble thoughts. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "We bow to beloved Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. There is much to learn from his life and noble thoughts. May Bapu’s ideals keep guiding us in creating a prosperous and compassionate India."
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay homage to Bapu on #GandhiJayanti. His message of truth, non-violence and love paves the way for the welfare of the world by bringing about harmony and equality in the society." He added that Bapu remains to be a source of inspiration for all humanity.