Leaders Across India Pay Tribute to Gandhi and Shastri on Birth Anniversaries
Nationwide homage celebrates icons’ legacy of truth, service.
Leaders across India, including Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, paid heartfelt tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries. The commemorations highlighted the enduring impact of Gandhi’s non-violence and Shastri’s simplicity, with leaders emphasizing their contributions to India’s freedom, unity, and self-reliance.
In New Delhi, Vice President Radhakrishnan lauded Gandhi’s teachings of truth and selfless service, urging reflection on whether actions uplift the poorest, as Gandhi advocated. He also praised Shastri’s honesty and iconic “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan, which underscores the vital roles of farmers and soldiers.
In Kerala, Governor Arlekar and CM Vijayan offered floral tributes at Raj Bhavan, but Vijayan sparked controversy by criticizing the RSS centenary celebrations, claiming they insult Gandhi’s memory and the Constitution, given the RSS’s historical ban post his assassination. Opposition leader V D Satheesan and BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar also honored Gandhi, with the latter linking his vision of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ to PM Modi’s initiatives.
In Gorakhpur, CM Adityanath paid floral tributes at Gorakhnath Temple, crediting the “double-engine government” for advancing Gandhi’s swadeshi and cleanliness ideals through schemes like One District One Product (ODOP) and Swachh Bharat Mission, which built 12 crore toilets nationwide. He announced swadeshi melas and a 25% khadi discount to promote local products. Adityanath also hailed Shastri’s leadership in the 1965 war and his push for agricultural self-reliance, echoed by Telangana’s N Ramchander Rao and K T Rama Rao, who honored Gandhi’s non-violent legacy.
Also Read: India Celebrates Gandhi, Shastri: Leaders Share Heartfelt Tributes Today
The tributes reflect a unified reverence for Gandhi’s philosophy of unity and Shastri’s dedication to national progress. From floral offerings to public pledges, leaders across states called for embracing their ideals to build a stronger, self-reliant India, with initiatives like #MadeInIndia gaining momentum.
Also Read: PM Modi Pays Emotional Tribute, Linking Gandhi and Shastri to Aatmanirbhar Bharat
