Nation pays homage to Nehru on 119th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Nov 14 (UNI) The nation today remembered its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 119th Birth Anniversary, a day which is also celebrated as the Children's day.

President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Mohd Hamid Ansari and Home Minister Shivraj Patil paid floral tributes to the leader at his memorial, the Shanti Van in the Capital.

Gandhi family scion Rahul Gandhi also paid his respects to Nehru, his great grandfather.

Others who visited the memorial included political leaders like Natwar Singh, Amar Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Known for his love for children, Nehru was fondly called 'Chacha Nehru'.

Several school children donning the 'Nehru cap' rendered songs at the memorial while a band played through the ceremony. Hundreds of Balloons were also released into the sky, filling it with all colours.

At a function in the Central Hall of Parliament, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha K Rahman Khan paid floral tributes to a portrait of Pandit Nehru.

Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Sis Ram Ola, MPs Rahul Gandhi, Dr M S Swaminathan, E M Sudarsana Nachiappan, Rajiv Shukla and Chinta Mohan and former MPs and other dignitaries attended the function.

On this occation the Lok Sabha Secretariat brought out a booklet containing the profile of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Hindi and English, which was distributed to all the dignitaries present.

Pandit Nehru was among the major political leaders who played a pivotal role in the Indian Independence movement. He was also a key figure in the international politics in the post-War period.

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