The nation today remembered the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 122nd birth anniversary with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paying homage to him.
Ms. Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Dr. Singh paid floral tributes to Nehru at Shanti Van, his memorial on the banks of Yamuna here, this morning as a large group of students sang patriotic songs.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was indisposed last week, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, senior Congress leader Motilal Vora and Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy were among prominent persons who paid floral tributes at the memorial.
At the end of the 40-minute ceremony, Ms. Patil, Mr. Ansari, Dr. Singh, Ms. Gandhi and Ms. Dikshit released tricolour balloons in the air amid playing of bands by students.
Students sang patriotic songs and played the band as the dignitaries paid floral tributes at Nehru’s samadhi.
