Nation pays homage to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The nation today paid homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 92nd birth anniversary. Born in a politically active Nehru family, she was the Prime Minister for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. A number of functions and welfare programmes were organised across the country as a mark of respect. A religious prayer meeting was held this morning at Shakti Sthal, her memorial. An annual sports marathon organised in the name of Gandhi has also begun in Allahabad. Over 4000 participants took part in the event. The residents of her constituency Rae Bareli also held functions to pay tribute to the former Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi contested the Lok Sabha elections from here and remained Prime Minister for three consecutive terms. The locals recalled all efforts made by Indira Gandhi to develop the constituency. "Be it sugar mill, textile mill, all of them which are on the verge of closing down owing to lack of developmental policies of the non congress government of Uttar Pradesh, were installed because of Indiraji. We had no infrastructure, power water nothing she developed the place. Sonia Gandhi (the current Member of Parliament from Raebareli and Chairman of the Congress Party) is also working on those lines," said Kusum Singh, a local. "She instilled pride in us and inspired to lead a life of dignity. Leaders have made history but she altered geography. She created a new nation state when she promoted formation of Bangladesh," said Ram Sewak Chodhary, a veteran Congress leader.