Rich tributes paid to Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri

Rich tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of their birth anniversary here Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Ashram in Hazratganj area of the state capital. Floral tributes were also paid to the statue of Bapu at GPO Park.

Later, the UP governor and chief minister garlanded and paid floral tributes to the statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri at Shastri Bhawan here.

Adityanath said, "Lal Bahadur Shastri appeared soft from the outside, but was courageous inside. In 1965 India-Pakistan war, he forced Pakistan to kneel."

Naik and Adityanath attended the 'Swachata hi Sewa' programme held on the occasion at Awadh Shilpgram. They also flagged off a publicity vehicle of the khadi department.

Speaking on this occasion, Adityanath said, "In 2014, the coverage of Swachh Bharat Mission was 23 per cent in the state and 64 per cent in the country. Now, .