Kalam, PM, Sonia, Advani visit 'Rajghat' on 'Martyrs Day'

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) The nation today paid homage to the 'father of the nation' on his 59th death anniversary with President A P J Abdul Kalam paying floral tributes at 'Rajghat' this morning.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L K Advani were among those who offered their homage to the 'Mahatma' on 'Martyrs Day' at his 'samadhi' here.

Chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy, Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande and several Union ministers were also present at 'Bapu Samadhi' here to pay homage.

Dignitaries also observed a two-minute silence on the occasion.

Bhajans and hymns associated with Gandhiji were also sung in his honour.

Coinciding with 'Martyrs Day', the centenary celebrations of 'Satyagraha' -- philosophy of non-violent resistence started by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi -- was also being held in the Capital with several world leaders including Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his counterpart from Slovenia, Janez Drnovsek, and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramagoolam participating in it.

Meanwhile, at the Old Secretariat in Civil Lines Delhi Assembly Speaker Ch Prem Singh, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit among others paid homage to the 'Mahatma' at the 'Dandi March' statue of Bapu this morning.

UNI