Nation pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, on his 69th death anniversary at Rajghat here. Whereas in states a two-minute silence was observed across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the 69th death anniverary of Mahatma Gandhi. The silence was observed at 11 a.m. in all government offices and educational institutions as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi and others who laid down their lives for the nation. The Governor of the two Telugu states, E.S.L. Narasimhan, and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao paid floral tributes at Bapu Ghat in Hyderabad. Similarly in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his cabinet colleagues paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Naidu led the state in observing a two minute silence. In Karnataka too Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Bengaluru. On this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, who fired three bullets into his chest at a prayer meeting at Birla House here.