President Pranab Mukherjee today led the nation in paying tributes to former President Giani Zail Singh on his 100th birth anniversary. In the morning, Mr Mukherjee paid floral tributes at the portrait of the late Giani Zail Singh at the Durbar Hall.<br/><br/>In the afternoon, Mr Mukherjee along with Vice-President Hamid Ansari and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh attended the birth centenary programme.<br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mukherjee said, Giani Zail Singh left behind a distinguished record of service as the President, Union Home Minister and Punjab Chief Minister. He recalled that how the former Home Minister managed the situation in Tripura after ethnic clashes broke out there. <br/><br/>He said, due to the efforts Giani Zail Singh there was no repercussions of the clash in other parts of the country. The President said, Giani Zail Singh intelligently managed the political crisis arised after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. <br/><br/>Describing him as a true Giani one who is full of knowledge, Mr Mukherjee recalled Singh's deep understandings of Indian history, culture and civilization. <br/><br/>He said, Giani Zail Singh's rise is an evidence of the opportunities Indian democracy provides to every Indian citizen irrespective of the status. He said, the great heights that Giani Zail Singh rose to, from a humble and poor background bears testimony to this great feature of Indian democracy.<br/><br/>Vice President Hamid Ansari recalled his meeting with Giani Zail Singh as an official of Ministry of External Affairs.<br/><br/>Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh recalled the work of Giani Zail Singh in the fields of Agriculture, Roads and in maintaining communal harmony.<br/><br/>A documentary on the life of Giani Zail Singh and a book on collection of memoirs and tributes on him were released on the occasion.