NEW DELHI, Oct 2: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Friday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on his 157th birth anniversary, with the leaders recalling his enduring message of peace, non-violence and inclusive development.
Murmu, who visited Raj Ghat, said Gandhi’s ideals remained particularly relevant amid conflicts in several parts of the world. She called for reaffirming the commitment to building an empowered, developed and self-reliant India through ethical conduct and active participation.
“Gandhiji’s life and ideals are widely respected by the global community. Today, an atmosphere of war and conflict prevails in many parts of the world… in these circumstances, Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence becomes even more relevant,” Murmu said in a post on X.
She also linked Gandhi’s ideal of Sarvodaya with the goal of ensuring that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.
Modi, who paid floral tribute at Raj Ghat, separately urged people to promote Swadeshi by purchasing at least one Khadi product on Gandhi Jayanti.
He said Gandhi’s thoughts had inspired the world and remained relevant when connected with humanity, while particularly highlighting the Mahatma’s emphasis on Swadeshi and the prominent place of Khadi in that vision.
“I urge all my fellow citizens to purchase at least one Khadi product on 2nd October and take pride in calling it Swadeshi,” Modi said.
He expressed hope that Gandhi’s timeless message would continue to guide society towards a better future and a “Viksit Bharat”.
Radhakrishnan also visited Raj Ghat and paid tribute to Gandhi on the occasion.
Gandhi Jayanti is observed annually on October 2 to commemorate Gandhi’s birth anniversary and his contribution to India’s freedom movement and the ideals of truth and non-violence.
