Mahatma Gandhi's ideals motivate millions across the world: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with President Ram Nath Kovind paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat on Monday.

Besides the two top leaders, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, former PM Manmohan Singh and BJP patriarch LK Advani also paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation and India's second prime minister.

On the occasion of Gandhi's birth anniversary, the PM tweeted: "I bow to beloved Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. His noble ideals motivate millions across the world."

गांधी जयंती पर बापू को शत्-शत् नमन! I bow to beloved Bapu on Gandhi Jayanti. His noble ideals motivate millions across the world. pic.twitter.com/NFUHMLVCxo — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2017

His birthday is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist during a prayer meeting at the Birla House here.

Gandhi is admired across the world for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance. He was known to his many followers as the Mahatma.

The Prime Minister in another tweet remembered Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birthday anniversary.

जवानों एवं किसानों के प्रणेता एवं देश को कुशल नेतृत्व प्रदान करने वाले शास्त्री जी को नमन! Remebering Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his Jayanti. pic.twitter.com/88ieTHnZip — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2017

The Vice President is also expected to unveil the statue of Gandhiji in the parking area of Rajghat.

October 2 is the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who is also known as the “Father of the Nation” and Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second prime minister of the country.

Naidu on Sunday said that after independence, Mahatma Gandhi wanted Ramarajya in India. Ramarajya means an ideal rule, where there is no fear, where there is no hunger, where there is no corruption, where there is no exploitation, where there is no discrimination. He further said that it is our duty at various levels and we must all work for the ideals of Ramarajya, given to the expectations of Mahatma Gandhi, and see to it that the people are given a fair rule we all concerned. That is why politicians always talk about Ramarajya, he added.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urged cleanliness be made a national movement, and said that achieving the goal of "Swachh Bharat" will be true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

The President described Mahatma Gandhi as a man of simple living and a moral preceptor, Kovind said that he gave a new direction to the country through his leadership.