Manmohan, Sonia, Rahul pay tributes to Indira, Patel

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi and India's Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

They paid tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary at the Shakti Sthal memorial site dedicated to her.

"We pay tribute to Indira Gandhi today (Saturday). A leader with courage and compassion. She protected the poor and died for India," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by her bodyguards a few months after the Indian Army took action in the Golden Temple in Amritsar to remove militants from there as part of a move to counter the insurgency in Punjab.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari also visited Shakti Sthal to pay floral tributes to Indira Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute and said: "Tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary."

She was born on November 19, 1917.

She held the office of prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977. She also became the prime minister from January 14, 1980 till her death.

The three Congress leaders also paid tribute to India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

Sardar Patel, known as India's Iron Man, played a major role in the country's struggle for independence and subsequently guided its integration into a united, independent nation.

Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Gujarat's Nadiad town. He died on December 15, 1950.

In his tweet, Rahul Gandhi said: "My tribute to Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary. One of the founding fathers of our nation, a patriot and a great Congressman."

"His contribution to unifying India and guarding against fundamentalist forces will always inspire us," he said.

Rahul Gandhi said Sardar Patel was truly India's Iron Man as he believed in a strong, united India where every Indian is equal.