PM Modi, President Kovind, Rahul Gandhi, Others Pay Tribute To Jawaharlal Nehru

Leaders across party lines paid tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, on his birth anniversary.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 14 November 2018 1:27 pm

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 129th birth anniversary.

Nehru was born to Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day. He remained in office until his death in 1964.

Former president Pranab Mukherjee, former vice president Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi paid their respects to Nehru at Shantivan.

"Remembering Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary," read a post on the official Twitter handle of the President Kovind .

Remembering Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 14, 2018

Modi recalled Nehru's contribution in India's freedom struggle and during his tenure as prime minister.

"Remembering our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. We recall his contribution to our freedom struggle and during his tenure as Prime Minister," he tweeted.

Remembering our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. We recall his contribution to our freedom struggle and during his tenure as Prime Minister.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 14, 2018

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is also the great-grandson of Nehru, paid tributes to Nehru saying "the best way for us to honour him, is by rededicating ourselves to Freedom, Democracy, Secularism & Socialism."

On the birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the best way for us to honour him, is by rededicating ourselves to Freedom, Democracy, Secularism & Socialism. These were the core values he believed in and fought for. These are the core values that bind our nation together. pic.twitter.com/RnrwDPcxCk
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 14, 2018

Tricolour balloons were released amid playing of bands and singing of patriotic songs by school children at Nehru's memorial Shantivan.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan led parliamentarians in paying tributes to the first prime minister at the Central Hall of Parliament.

Besides Mahajan, senior leaders L K Advani, Sonia Gandhi, Gulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Union minister Vijay Goel, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda among others paid homage to Nehru.

PTI