Nation pays tribute to Indira Gandhi on her 26th death anniversary

New Delhi, Oct 31 (ANI): The nation on Sunday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 26th death anniversary.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit were among the first to pay floral tributes to the late leader.

A series of functions are being organized throughout the country to mark the occasion.

Indira Gandhi award for national integration will be conferred jointly to Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur and famous music director A R Rehman for the year 2009 at a function in New Delhi for their services in promoting and preserving national integration.

Indira Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister of the country from 1966 to 1976 and again from 1980 to 1984, was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards at her residence on October 31, 1984.

She is noted for declaring a state of emergency after a court struck down her election in 1975, and also for her handling of the 'Operation Blue Star' against Sikh militants, which eventually resulted in her assassination. (ANI)