The nation is commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday and hold several programmes throughout the country to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation
NEW DELHI: The nation is commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday during which several programmes will be held throughout the country to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the day by paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his resting place - the Rajghat - in the national capital. He then paid a visit to Vijayghat at 7.50 AM, the resting place of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also shares his birthday with Gandhi, and paid tributes to him as well. PM Modi will next go to Parliament at 10.30 AM where he will pay floral tributes to both leaders. In Delhi, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a small gathering in Shalimar Bagh on the occasion. Shah also flagged off a `Gandhi Sankalp Yatra` from the Ramlila Maidan.
Later in the evening, he will fly off to Ahmedabad where BJP leaders and the state cabinet members will welcome him. A programme will be held at the airport where he will address a public meeting. He will then visit the Sabarmati Ashram where he will garland the Gandhi statue. The Prime Minister, who launched the `Swachh Bharat` campaign in 2014, in remembrance of Gandhi, will take part in an event for cleanliness there. The `Swachh Bharat` campaign was launched with the goal to make India open-defecation free, with Gandhi`s iconic spectacles serving as the campaign`s logo.
There will be a programme on the riverfront at 7 pm where thousands of sarpanches from all over Gujarat will be present. Around 8.30 pm, PM Modi will visit the Gmdc ground in Ahmedabad to participate in the Navratri festival. He will depart for Delhi at around 9.30 pm.
Meanwhile, BJP working president JP Nadda will join Gandhi Sankalp Yatra at Chand Vatika, near Khaira village, whereas Union minister Prakash Javadekar will join in at Chuna Bhatti area of Kirti Nagar. All Delhi MPs and senior BJP leaders will join this yatra at different points across Delhi.
Ever since the Modi government first came to power in 2014, October 2 is celebrated with much fanfare.
Here are the live updates:-
Glimpses from the Gandhi Sandesh Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. The padyatra aims to redeem Gandhiji, Gandhism and Gandhi's India in our country today, tweets Congress.
Glimpses from the #GandhiSandeshYatra led by Shri @RahulGandhi
The Padyatra aims to redeem Gandhiji, Gandhism and Gandhi's India in our country today. pic.twitter.com/6xsx7NwlQO
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 2, 2019
Here's a picture of PM Narendra Modi paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Parliament earlier today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Senior BJP leader LK Advani and AIADMK leader M Thambidurai were also present.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, at the Parliament, earlier today. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Senior BJP leader LK Advani and AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai also present. pic.twitter.com/9rYKhodinp
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Rahul Gandhi arrives at Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office for the party's Gandhi Sandesh Yatra on Gandhi Jayanti.
Rahul Gandhi arrives at Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office for the party's Gandhi Sandesh Yatra on #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/eb06iZ9v2S
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
A clean-up drive was conducted at Versova beach in Mumbai to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
Mumbai: A clean-up drive was conducted at Versova beach. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/Nbww5iAcap
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah takes part in 'Gandhi Sankalp Yatra,' in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi
Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah takes part in 'Gandhi Sankalp Yatra,' in Shalimar Bagh. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/KMS8G1oid4
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis takes part in 'Swacchhta Abhiyaan' (cleanliness drive) at Sion-Koliwada in Mumbai on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis takes part in 'Swacchhta Abhiyaan (cleanliness drive),' at Sion-Koliwada in Mumbai. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/NDWPpCWg39
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
BJP president Amit Shah flags off 'Gandhi Sankalp Yatra' in Delhi.
BJP President Amit Shah during 'Gandhi Sankalp Yatra' in Delhi: Gandhi ji's satyagraha movement brought the British to their knees. He showed the path of truth and non violence to the world. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/fX63hEvNIy
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh administered a cleanliness oath to people at an event organised in Delhi Cantonment on Gandhi Jayanti.
Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh administered a cleanliness oath to people at an event organised in Delhi Cantonment on #GandhiJayanti, today. pic.twitter.com/GrgCFDJ5KA
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Air India pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by painting his portrait on the tail of an Airbus A320 aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
Air India pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by painting his portrait on the tail of an Airbus A320 aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport(Delhi) #GandhiJayanti #GandhiAt150 pic.twitter.com/JCEGeL4KPP
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Former cricketers Roger Binny, Javagal Srinath and Syed Kirmani participated in "Wild Life Week," - a wildlife awareness program organised by Forest Department at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
Karnataka: Former cricketers Roger Binny, Javagal Srinath and Syed Kirmani participated in "Wild Life Week," - a wild life awareness program organised by Forest Department at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/m3ezD0mwcf
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia pay tribute to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia pay tribute to Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat. #LalBahadurShastriJayanti pic.twitter.com/xDSVO4KCEK
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flags off 'Fit India Plog run,'- a trash-collecting activity while jogging, at Indira Gandhi stadium. Wrestler Bajrang Punia also present.
Delhi: Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flags off 'Fit India Plog run,'- a trash collecting activity while jogging, at Indira Gandhi stadium. Wrestler Bajrang Punia also present. #GandhiJayanti pic.twitter.com/3acGwdOe3M
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Anil Shastri, son of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, pays tribute to his father at Vijay Ghat.
Delhi: Anil Shastri, son of Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, pays tribute to his father at Vijay Ghat. #LalBahadurShastriJayanti pic.twitter.com/Woct0S03zI
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh pay tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat.
Delhi: Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh pay tribute to Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat. #LalBahadurShastriJayanti pic.twitter.com/yBTB000Q6O
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat.
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat. #LalBahadurShastriJayanti pic.twitter.com/YoI07Sbwjp
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2019
PM Narendra Modi pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
raassttrpitaa mhaatmaa gaadhii ko unkii 150vii jnm-jytii pr sht-sht nmn /
Tributes to beloved Bapu! On #Gandhi150, we express gratitude to Mahatma Gandhi for his everlasting contribution to humanity. We pledge to continue working hard to realise his dreams and create a better planet. pic.twitter.com/4y0HqBO762
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2019
From there, PM will go to the Sabarmati riverfront where he will declare the country open defecation-free (ODF) in the presence of over 20,000 village heads. People associated with Gandhian institutions, high court judges, Padma awardees, students, educationists and village-level sanitation workers have been invited for the function.
Several events have been planned across the country to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th aniversary on Wednesday. PM Modi will start the day with a visit to Rajghat, the resting place of the father of the nation. It will be followed by a visit to Vijayghat, the resting place of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who also shares his birthday with Gandhi.