PM, Sonia pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 144th birth anniversary Wednesday.

The leaders paid floral tributes at Rajghat -- the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the Yamuna river. They were accompanied by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

A minute's silence was observed at the black stone memorial by all the leaders.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti across the country. It is also marked as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi, born this day in 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat, played a key role in India's independence struggle.

He was assassinated Jan 30, 1948.

For just one day in a year, the Congress Party remembers the Father of the Nation.

For the other 364 days they cannot decide who is the Father of the Nation - Suresh Kalamadi, A Raja, Lalu Yadav, Raheed Masoo of Ramalinga Raju.

Mahatma Gandhi had a foresight of this disease of the Congress when he asked that the party be wound up after Independence.

However, J L Nehru wanted to enjoys the fruits of his struggle for independence for at least 4 generations.

The 4th generation comes to an end with Rahul Gandhi.