Nation remembers Jawaharlal Nehru on 126th birth anniversary

NEW DELHI: The nation today fondly remembered the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 126th birth anniversary with President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari leading the country in paying homage to him.

Mukherjee, Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with top Congress leaders paid floral tributes to Nehru at his memorial 'Shanti Van' on the banks of Yamuna here.

The NDA leaders, however, were conspicuous by their absence at the event.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, senior party leaders Sheila Dikshit, Ajay Maken, Anand Sharma and Bhupinder Singh Hooda were among those who paid homage at the memorial.

At the end of the ceremony, the dignitaries released tricolour balloons in the air amid playing of bands and patriotic songs by school children.

Nehru was born to Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and his birthday is celebrated as Children's Day in India as he was fond of children.