The grateful nation today paid homage to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries. <br/><br/>In the morning, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries visited Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi to offer tributes. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Senior BJP leader L K Advani and others also paid homage to Gandhiji. An all religion prayer meeting was also organized there. <br/><br/>Later, President, Vice President and Prime Minister also paid floral tributes at the Samadhi of Lal Bahadur Shastri, at Vijay Ghat. <br/>In the evening, Prime Minister visited Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi to pay tribute. <br/><br/>In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said, Gandhiji taught the value of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and his ideals of non-violence, freedom, equality and religious tolerance have eternal value. He asked the people to imbibe wisdom from Gandhiji's thoughts and actions to address the challenges confronting the nation. He also urged the people to keep alive in their hearts and minds at all times the principles of tolerance and non-violence. <br/><br/>Mr Narendra Modi said, Mahatma Gandhi made the world a better place and his ideals, dedication to the poor and struggle against injustice inspire people.