Indian President Murmu, PM Modi pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on 153rd birthday

Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top opposition leader Sonia Gandhi today (October 2, 2022) paid tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 153rd birth anniversary.

President Murmu said Gandhi's birth anniversary is an occasion for all to rededicate themselves to the values of peace, equality and communal harmony.

"Paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on #GandhiJayanti. This Gandhi Jayanti is even more special because India is marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. May we always live up to Bapu's ideals. I also urge you all to purchase Khadi and handicrafts products as a tribute to Gandhi Ji," Modi tweeted.

Modi also paid floral tributes at the memorial of Gandhi in Delhi's Rajghat, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Sonia too visited Rajghat and paid tributes to the Father of the Nation this morning.

Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a Twitter post that "on International Day of Non-Violence, we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday & values of peace, respect & the essential dignity shared by everyone. We can defeat today's challenges by embracing these values & working across cultures."

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Nathuram Godse.