Gandhi's 149th birth anniversary celebrated in WB

West Bengal celebrated the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday with Governor K N Tripathi attending an all-faith prayer meeting and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of a new museum complex on Bapu.

At the Gandhi Ghat in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district, Tripathi offered flowers at Gandhi's statue and attended an all-faith prayer service.

School students read excerpts from Bapu's books while an exhibition on the life and sacrifices of the Father of Nation was being held at the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya in Barrackpore.

At a function in Beleghata area of city, Banerjee laid the foundation stone of a new museum complex at the state-acquired Gandhi Bhawan.

"We need leaders and statesmen like Gandhiji who could guide us during times of crisis," the chief minister said.

Banerjee announced Rs 3.5 crore grant for construction of the museum complex and renovation work at Gandhi Bhawan, where the "Father of the nation" had stayed for around a month during the 1947 riots in the city.

At the N S C Bose International Airport here, a cleanliness drive was taken up on the day by the Airports Authority of India.

Gandhiji's statute was garlanded and patriotic songs played in different parts of the city at functions organised by clubs, social organisations and political parties.