Live: Mahatma Gandhi pioneered non-violent movements that changed history, says UN chief

The nation is commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday and hold several programmes throughout the country to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation

NEW DELHI: The nation is commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday during which several programmes will be held throughout the country to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the day by paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his resting place - the Rajghat - in the national capital. He then paid a visit to Vijayghat at 7.50 AM, the resting place of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also shares his birthday with Gandhi, and paid tributes to him as well. PM Modi will next go to Parliament at 10.30 AM where he will pay floral tributes to both leaders. In Delhi, BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a small gathering in Shalimar Bagh on the occasion. Shah also flagged off a `Gandhi Sankalp Yatra` from the Ramlila Maidan.

Later in the evening, he will fly off to Ahmedabad where BJP leaders and the state cabinet members will welcome him. A programme will be held at the airport where he will address a public meeting. He will then visit the Sabarmati Ashram where he will garland the Gandhi statue. The Prime Minister, who launched the `Swachh Bharat` campaign in 2014, in remembrance of Gandhi, will take part in an event for cleanliness there. The `Swachh Bharat` campaign was launched with the goal to make India open-defecation free, with Gandhi`s iconic spectacles serving as the campaign`s logo.

There will be a programme on the riverfront at 7 pm where thousands of sarpanches from all over Gujarat will be present. Around 8.30 pm, PM Modi will visit the Gmdc ground in Ahmedabad to participate in the Navratri festival. He will depart for Delhi at around 9.30 pm.

Meanwhile, BJP working president JP Nadda will join Gandhi Sankalp Yatra at Chand Vatika, near Khaira village, whereas Union minister Prakash Javadekar will join in at Chuna Bhatti area of Kirti Nagar. All Delhi MPs and senior BJP leaders will join this yatra at different points across Delhi.

Ever since the Modi government first came to power in 2014, October 2 is celebrated with much fanfare.

Here are the live updates:-

02 October 2019

13:33 IST

Mahatma Gandhi pioneered non-violent movements that changed history, says UN Secretary-General on Mahtama Gandhi's 150 anniversary.

13:30 IST

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Delhi Cantonment.