New Delhi: Speaking on the ocassion of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the 'Father of the Nation' cared deeply about environmental conservation, protection of animals and protection of animals and achieving these goals would be a fitting tribute to him. PM also said rural India has declared itself open defecation-free.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, the resting place of the Father of the Nation, at 7.20 a.m, and then proceeded to the Vijay Ghat, the resting place of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also shares his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi also paid floral tributes to the Father of Nation.
Several events were organised in Gujarat today as a part Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary celebrations.
PM Modi arrived at the Ahmedabad airport around 6 pm and went to the Sabarmati Ashram. where Mahatma Gandhi lived for several years.
Here are the Live Updates of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations:
Mahatma Gandhi cared about sanitation, environmental conversation and protection of animals: PM
Sanitation, environmental protection and animal protection of animals were subjects important to Gandhiji. Plastic is a major threat to these three. We have to achieve the goal of making the country free of single-use plastic by the year 2022
Swachh Bharat mission created more than 75 lakh jobs: PM
The 'Swachh Bharat' mission has generated new employment opportunities for people, especially in rural areas
Feel Bapu's Presence Everytime I Come To Sabarmati: PM
I went to the Sabarmati Ashram before coming here. I've been there a lot of times. Every time, I feel Bapu's presence there. Today, there was a new energy there.
Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations In Beijing
Akhilesh Yadav and other Samajwadi Party leaders mark Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary in Lucknow
Thousands of students at the 'Global Student Solar Assembly' on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi
BSF soldiers with sniffer dogs participate in a cleanliness campaign on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary
Mahatma Gandhi's Teachings Solution To Every Problem: PM
Mahatma Gandhi's 150th anniversary has been marked at the United Nations with immense enthusiasm. Take any problem the world faces, the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi offer solutions to those challenges
India Setting Example With Positive Changes: PM Modi
"India's stature is rising at world stage. Respect for India is increasing all over. One can experience the change. The world can see that India is at the forefront of several positive changes," PM Modi said
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the "Gandhi Vichar Samagam" event at Gyan Bhawan in Patna
Gujarat celebrates Gandhi Jayanti with prayers, cleanliness drives
Prayer meets were organised at several places in Gujarat, including Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday morning to pay tributes to the Mahatma.
A large number of primary school students gathered at Hriday Kunj, Gandhi''s home at the Sabarmati Ashram, to attend an all-faith prayer meet organised on the occasion.
They expressed their views on the relevance of Gandhi's teaching of non-violence in today''s world.
Members of the ashram's trust, eminent Gandhians and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani attended a prayer meet at Porbandar''s Kirti Mandir, the house where Mahatma Gandhi was born on this date in 1869.
Spinning session, bhajans at place where Mahatma Gandhi stayed while in Mumbai
A spinning session and singing of bhajans were among the events organised at Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed while in Mumbai, on Wednesday to mark his 150th birth anniversary.
The day began with a khadi spinning session at 7.30 am
followed by an hour of prayer and bhajans, Executive Secretary
of Mani Bhavan Meghshyam Ajgaonkar said.
On Gandhi Jayanti, PM Modi proposes "Einstein challenge" to the Mahatma
PM Modi has written an opinion piece in The New York Times on Gandhi Jayanti.
In the article, PM Modi says that Mahatma Gandhi envisioned Indian nationalism as one that was never narrow or exclusive but one that worked for the service of humanity.
Quoting Albert Einstein, PM Modi proposed the "Einstein Challenge" to ensure that ideals of the Mahatma are remembered by future generations.
"As a tribute to Gandhi, I propose what I call the Einstein Challenge... How do we ensure the ideals of Gandhi are remembered by future generations? I invite thinkers, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to be at the forefront of spreading Gandhi's ideas through innovation," PM Modi writes in the 931-word piece titled "Why India and the World Need Gandhi".
PM Modi, in his article, says Gandhi had the unique ability to become a bridge between some of the greatest contradictions in human society.
Mahatma Gandhi showed love for non-violence is only way to defeat hatred: Rahul Gandhi
Several top Congress leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi, on Wednesday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary with Rahul Gandhi saying that the Father of the Nation showed that love for all living beings and non-violence is the only way to defeat bigotry and hatred.
The Congress president and former prime minister Manmohan Singh were among those who paid floral tributes to the father of the nation.
Taking to Twitter, former party president Rahul Gandhi said: "On his 150th Jayanti, my tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji, the ''Father of the Nation'', who through his words & deeds, showed us that love for all living beings & non violence is the only way to defeat oppression, bigotry & hatred."
BJP, Congress have planned several events today
Both the BJP and Congress have planned several events to mark the event.
While, Congress party's interim President Sonia Gandhi will lead a Gandhi Sandesh padyatra at 9.30 a.m. from the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee officer, BJP Working President J.P. Nadda will hold a Gandhi Sankalp Yatra at Chand Vatika, near Khaira village in Delhi.
Gandhi Jayanti celebrations: PM Modi to declare India open defecation free today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Sabarmati Ashram in the evening. Several events will be organised in the city and other parts of Gujarat today as part of the sesquicentennial year of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
PM Modi will arrive at the Ahmedabad airport around 6 pm, and will be greeted by BJP workers at a function organised there by the party's city unit.
He will then visit the Sabarmati Ashram to pay tributes to the Father of the Nation, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani said.
From there, he 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, he said.
People associated with Gandhian institutions, high court judges, Padma awardees, students, educationists and village-level sanitation workers have been invited for the function.
Sonia Gandhi, JP Nadda pay tribute at Rajghat
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and BJP working President JP Nadda paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader LK Advani also arrived at Raj Ghat to pay tribute to the Mahatma.
A large number of events are lined up across the nation, as the country observes the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today.
Both BJP and Congress have made detailed plans including foot marches, cleanliness drive etc to mark the occasion.
Earlier today, PM Modi tweeted to express gratitude to Mahatma Gandhi for his everlasting contribution to humanity.
PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Rajghat. He will address the nation at 10 am.
Gandhi Jayanti: PM Modi will visit Sabarmati Ashram today evening
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Sabarmati Ashram on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Several events will be organised in the city and other parts of Gujarat today as part of the sesquicentennial year of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
Congress leaders, led by party's interim President Sonia Gandhi, will lead a Gandhi Sandesh padyatra as part of a week-long celebration to mark the 150th birth anniversary. The march will start at 9:30 am from the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee officer.
A large number of activities have been planned for the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today. PM Modi will kickstart the countrywide celebrations with a visit to Rajghat, the resting place of the Father of the Nation, at 7.20 a.m. He will also visit Vijayghat, the resting place of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also shares his birthday with Gandhi.