PM, Sonia pay tributes to Gangadhar Tilak & Chandra Shekhar Azad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi paid rich tributes to freedom fighters Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversary today.

The Prime Minister described Tilak as one who instilled the “much-needed sense of pride and self confidence” that contributed in shaping India’s history, while he saluted the “courageous” Azad for his valour.

“The great Bal Gangadhar Tilak inspired several people to devote themselves to the freedom struggle. I bow to him on his birth anniversary.

“Lokmanya Tilak’s efforts instilled a much needed sense of pride and self-confidence, which contributed in shaping India’s history,” he said on twitter.

On Azad, he said, “I salute the courageous Chandra Shekhar Azad, who won the admiration of countless Indians due to his valour, on his birth anniversary.”

Paying rich tributes and homage to Tilak, Sonia Gandhi said he brought new energies and vigour to the Indian national movement and will be remembered for introducing ‘Swaraj’ as the concept of birthright of every Indian.

“Aptly called ‘Father of Indian unrest’, he brought new energies and vigour to the Indian National Movement. Bal Gangadhar Tilak will be remembered for introducing Swaraj as the concept of birth right of every Indian. His contribution is strengthening and shaping Congress Party and popularising its ideas is phenomenal,” she said in a statement.

Paying rich tributes to Azad on his birth anniversary, Gandhi said he was a great revolutionary freedom fighter. “Remembering him as the brave son of Mother India for whom a progressive and inclusive India free from colonialism stood above anything else,” she said.

Gandhi also said that Azad, in his life and death, inspired youth to fight for India’s freedom and values that we stand for. “His courage and velour is historically exceptional and contribution unforgettable,” she underlined.