PM Modi, Congress leaders pay tributes to Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Indira Gandhi, India’s first female Prime Minister, on her 108th birth anniversary on Wednesday.

“Tributes to former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji on the occasion of her birth anniversary,” PM Modi posted on X.

Tributes to former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji on the occasion of her birth anniversary.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2025

The Prime Minister also paid a tribute to ‘warrior queen’ Rani Lakshmibai on her 197th birth anniversary, hailing her bravery and valour during the war of independence.

मां भारती की अमर वीरांगना रानी लक्ष्मीबाई को उनकी जयंती पर आदरपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि। आजादी के पहले संग्राम में उनकी वीरता और पराक्रम की कहानी आज भी देशवासियों को जोश और जुनून से भर देती है। मातृभूमि के स्वाभिमान की रक्षा के लिए उनके त्याग और संघर्ष को कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र कभी भुला नहीं…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2025

“A respectful tribute to Mother India’s immortal warrior queen, Rani Lakshmibai, on her birth anniversary. The story of her bravery and valor in the first war of independence still fills the hearts of the countrymen with zeal and passion today,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Calling for everyone never to forget her sacrifice, PM Modi added, “A grateful nation can never forget her sacrifice and struggle for the protection of the pride of the motherland.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and others paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal, the memorial site of the former PM.

https://x.com/ANI/status/1990983027774902608

Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday paid homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary, remembering her exemplary leadership and how her unwavering resolve with lifelong dedication to public service left an indelible mark on India’s journey.

“The exemplary and the dynamic leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi, showing immense political courage, shall forever remain an inspiration. Her unwavering resolve and lifelong dedication to public service left an indelible mark on India’s journey of progress,” Kharge posted on X, along with snippets of the former PM’s speeches.

https://x.com/kharge/status/1990982106072412548?s=20

Remembering her sacrifice in “safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation,” Kharge paid a respectful homage to her enduring legacy. “Her ultimate sacrifice in safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation deserves a million salutations. On her birth anniversary, we offer our respectful homage to her enduring legacy,” he posted.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indra Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary on Wednesday. The leaders gathered at Delhi’s Shakti Sthal and paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister.

In a post on X, Congress highlighted that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sacrificed everything for the country’s unity and integrity.

“Leader of the Opposition Shri @RahulGandhi paid tribute to the country’s first female Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi ji, on her birth anniversary. Indira Gandhi ji, who sacrificed everything for the unity and integrity of the country, is saluted a million times,” wrote Congress.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of India’s former Prime Minister, the late Smt. Indira Gandhi ji, LoP Shri @RahulGandhi paid homage to her unparalleled legacy at Shakti Sthal.

The embodiment of ‘Shakti’, Indira ji steered the nation towards self-reliance, inclusive… pic.twitter.com/So8l9ZBQQR

— Congress (@INCIndia) November 19, 2025

Additionally, Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sharing a video of Gandhi on X, Kharge praised her leadership and highlighted that her resolve and lifelong dedication to public service have left an indelible mark on India’s journey of progress.

“The exemplary and the dynamic leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi, showing immense political courage, shall forever remain an inspiration. Her unwavering resolve and lifelong dedication to public service left an indelible mark on India’s journey of progress. Her ultimate sacrifice in safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation deserves a million salutations. On her birth anniversary, we offer our respectful homage to her enduring legacy,” wrote Kharge.

Born on November 19, 1917, to India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru, Indira Gandhi served as the first and only woman prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.

She was shot dead by two of her own bodyguards at her official residence at Akbar Road on October 31, 1984, which led to anti-Sikh riots in several parts of the country.

She was the second-longest-serving Prime Minister after Nehru and was well-known for path-breaking economic and social reforms, including the nationalisation of banks. She also abolished the privy purses of the erstwhile princely states.

Also known as the ‘Iron Lady of India,’ Indira Gandhi was actively involved in the freedom movements, including starting the ‘Bal Charkha Sangh’ and ‘Vanar Sena’ to support the Congress during the Civil disobedience movement and fight against the British forces.

Hailed as one of the tallest world leaders, she was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards at her residence on Akbar Road on October 31, 1984. This came after Operation Bluestar was executed at Amritsar’s Golden Temple, wherein Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to confront Sikh separatists who had taken shelter at the holy shrine.

Born on November 19, 1917, to India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru, Indira Gandhi served as the first and only woman prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.

She was the second longest-serving Prime Minister after Nehru and was well-known for path-breaking economic and social reforms, including the nationalisation of banks. She also abolished the privy purses of the erstwhile princely states.

Indira Gandhi, who was hailed as one of the tallest world leaders, was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards at her residence on Akbar Road on October 31, 1984. This came after Operation Bluestar was executed at Amritsar’s Golden Temple, wherein Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to confront Sikh separatists who had taken shelter at the holy shrine.

Under her, India fought the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, which eventually secured the creation of an independent Bangladesh. Indian forces supported Bangladesh’s ‘Mukti Vahini’. In 1967, a military conflict broke out between India and China, leading to the deaths of multiple Chinese and Indian soldiers and resulting in the withdrawal of Chinese forces from Sikkim. 8 years later, in 1975, Sikkim was incorporated into the Indian union after a referendum called for it. (ANI)