Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PHOTOS: Honouring Indira Gandhi, India's Iron Lady

Last updated on: October 31, 2014 14:29 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday skipped the event commemorating the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the Shakti Sthal memorial where President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and top leaders of the Congress paid floral tributes to her.

President Pranab Mukherjee performing parikrama at the samadhi of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
 

The dignitaries including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi drove to the memorial where they placed floral wreaths at the spot where she was laid to rest.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi pay their homage to former PM Indira Gandhi
 

Complete Coverage: Indira Gandhi assassination

Devotional songs were played at Shakti Sthal. A speech of the late leader was also played on the occasion. There was also an event at her residence where she was shot dead on this day 30 years ago which had been converted into a memorial.

President Pranab Mukherjee pays a floral tribute to Indira Gandhi. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
 

Expressing Congress’s displeasure over government keeping away from the event to pay homage to Gandhi, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said Indira Gandhi lived and died for the nation and it was the responsibility of every government to honour her sacrifice.

Vice President Hamid Ansari was also present at the function to honour Gandhi on her 30th death anniversary. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
 

The event at Shakti Sthal, organised by Congress, was attended by party leaders Motilal Vora, M Veerappa Moily, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Ahmed Patel, Bhupinder Singh Hooda,

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Digvijay Singh and Shakeel Ahmad besides others.

Former PM Manmohan Singh, President Mukherjee and other Congress leaders at the memorial. Photograph: Press Information Bureau
 

Earlier in the day, Modi tweeted: “I join my fellow countrymen & women in remembering former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi on her Punya Tithi.”

Modi’s ministerial colleague Harsh Vardhan, who is on an official visit in Spain also paid homage to Gandhi. “Remember Indira Gandhi the former PM of India who had to sacrifice her life on this day thirty years back – shall always be remembered, he said in a tweet.

Congress workers wash Indira Gandhi's statue in Allahabad a day before the anniversary. Photograph: PTI photo

 MUST READ: How a Sikh family survived a massacre 30 years ago

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.