Kovind, Modi pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary

New Delhi, January 30

The nation on Saturday remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 73rd death anniversary with President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the country in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.

President Kovind, Vice President Naidu, Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others, also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat in Delhi. 

Gandhi was shot dead on this day in 1948 by Nathuram Godse. His death anniversary is observed as Martyrs’ Day.

Paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Kovind said people should adhere to his ideals of peace, non-violence, simplicity, purity of means and humility.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, my humble tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi who embraced martyrdom this day. We should adhere to his ideals of peace, non-violence, simplicity, purity of means and humility. Let us resolve to follow his path of truth and love,” he tweeted.

On behalf of a grateful nation, my humble tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi who embraced martyrdom this day. We should adhere to his ideals of peace, non-violence, simplicity, purity of means and humility. Let us resolve to follow his path of truth and love.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 30, 2021

On Twitter, Naidu shared a quote of Mahatma Gandhi – “Ahimsa is the highest duty. Even if we cannot practice it in full, we must try to understand its spirit and refrain as far as is humanly possible from violence.”

“अहिंसा ही सबसे बड़ा धर्म है।यदि हम इसका पूरी तरह से पालन न भी कर पाएं तो भी हमें इसकी भावना को समझना चाहिए और जहां तक संभव हो हिंसा का त्याग करना चाहिए”- महात्मा गांधी

राष्ट्रपिता #महात्मा_गाँधी_जी की पुण्य तिथि पर उनकी पावन स्मृति में सादर श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करता हूं।#Gandhiji pic.twitter.com/C2AbTJlQw8

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 30, 2021

“Gandhiji was a crusader of peace, non-violence & selfless service. Both, through his words and actions, he left an indelible imprint on the sands of time. He inspired countless people worldwide to follow the path of ahimsa,” Naidu said.

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu offering floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji on his Punya Tithi at Raj Ghat today. #MahatmaGandhi pic.twitter.com/FsVnARhFYr

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 30, 2021

“Mahatma Gandhi worked relentlessly for the uplift of the vulnerable sections, downtrodden and socially backward. Gandhiji’s glorious life and principles continue to inspire the entire world. As we remember him, let us emulate his teachings and resolve to follow the path shown by him,” he said in another tweet.

Paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, Modi said his ideals continue to motivate millions.

“Tributes to the great Bapu on his Punya Tithi. His ideals continue to motivate millions. On Martyrs’ Day we recall the heroic sacrifices of all those great women and men who devoted themselves towards India’s freedom and the well-being of every Indian,” he said in a tweet.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, saying his principles of truth and non-violence are still relevant through which any struggle for rights can be won.

“Truth, non-violence, patience, bravery and ‘Satyagrah’. These principles of Gandhiji that rendered ineffective bigger powers are relevant even today, through which any struggle for rights can be won,” he tweeted in Hindi.

In his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Twitter, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared a quote of the Father of the Nation – “Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.”

‘सत्य लोगों के समर्थन के बिना भी खड़ा रहता है, वह आत्मनिर्भर है।’
– महात्मा गाँधी

बापू की पुण्यतिथि पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि। pic.twitter.com/41BW0XfGvF

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 30, 2021

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi, remembering that he had said the “ruler who defies public opinion is cruel and any unjust law is a form of violence in itself”.

“Gandhiji was killed with the purpose of killing his ideas. But Gandhiji’s ‘Satyagraha’ is the strength of the whole country and it is our responsibility,” she tweeted in Hindi.

गांधीजी ने कहा था जनता की राय की अवहेलना करने वाला शासक क्रूर होता है व कोई भी अन्यायपूर्ण कानून अपने आप में हिंसा का एक रूप है।

गांधीजी की हत्या उनके विचारों की हत्या के उद्देश्य से भी की गई थी।

लेकिन गांधी जी का सत्याग्रह आज पूरे भारत की ताकत है व हमारा दायित्व भी।#Martyrs pic.twitter.com/qVsFymvAL5

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 30, 2021

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “We must never forget the forces that assassinated the Father or the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi. The ideology of hate and fratricide that killed him will never be allowed to succeed. Its inheritors will be fought and pushed back.” PTI