New Delhi: On September 10, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other G20 leaders and heads of international organizations, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, the memorial to the Father of the Nation in New Delhi.
The leaders arrived at Rajghat at around 9:00 AM and were welcomed by PM Modi with a traditional Indian welcome, including a garland of flowers and a tilak on the forehead. They then proceeded to the Samadhi, Gandhi’s cremation site, where they laid wreaths and observed a minute of silence.
After paying their respects, the leaders met with PM Modi for a brief discussion. They also planted saplings at Rajghat as a symbol of their commitment to environmental protection.
In a tweet, PM Modi said that the G20 leaders’ visit to Rajghat was a “reaffirmation of their commitment to Gandhian values of peace, non-violence and compassion.” He also said that the leaders were “inspired by Gandhi’s vision of a just and equitable world.”
The visit of the G20 leaders to Rajghat was a significant event, as it was the first time that so many world leaders had come together to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. It was a reminder of the importance of Gandhi’s legacy and his message of peace and non-violence.
The leaders’ visit was also a sign of the respect that they have for India and its culture. It was a gesture of goodwill and friendship, and it is hoped that it will help to strengthen ties between India and the other G20 countries.
In addition to PM Modi, the other G20 leaders who paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat were:
- President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez
- Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz
- President of Indonesia Joko Widodo
- Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi
- Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida
- President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
- President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk-yeol
- Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud
- President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa
- Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson
- President of the United States Joe Biden
The heads of international organizations who also paid their respects included Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the World Bank David Malpass, and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva.
The visit of the G20 leaders to Rajghat was a historic event that will be remembered for many years to come. It was a gesture of respect for Mahatma Gandhi and his legacy, and it is a sign of the hope that the world leaders have for a more peaceful and just future.