INDIA prime minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among prominent political leaders who on Wednesday (1) greeted the people of Gujarat on the occasion of the state's foundation day.
President Ram Nath Kovind also extended his greetings on the occasion.
Modi hailed Gujaratis for their courage, innovation and spirit of enterprise and hoped his home state will scale new heights of glory.
In the state, chief minister Vijay Rupani and other leaders paid floral tributes at the statue of Indulal Yagnik, the leader behind the Mahagujarat Movement that led to the formation of the state on May 1, 1960 after the division of the Bombay State.
Besides Gujarat, Maharashtra also came into existence on May 1, 1960 following the division of the Bombay State.
"Best wishes to the people of Gujarat on Gujarat Diwas. In all spheres, people from the state have made outstanding contributions.
"Gujaratis are known for their courage, innovation and spirit of enterprise. May Gujarat scale new heights of glory.
Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat!" the prime minister said in a tweet posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
"My best wishes and greetings to the people of Gujarat on #GujaratDay," tweeted Gandhi.
"Greetings to the people of Gujarat on statehood day.
May the state continue to develop and prosper in the years to come.
"My best wishes to the people of Gujarat for a bright future," Kovind said in a tweet.
Rupani and other leaders paid floral tributes to Yagnik, the architect of present-day Gujarat, on the occasion of the state's foundation day.
The CM also paid tributes at the Shaheed Smarak in the city, erected in memory of students who died in police firing during separate state demand movement.
Leaders of both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress paid tributes to Yagnik to mark the Gujarat Day.
Former Gujarat chief minister and NCP leader Shankersinh Vaghela also paid tribute to Yagnik on the occasion.
Rupani extended his best wishes to Gujaratis living in the state, across the country and abroad. He urged them to commit themselves to make Gujarat prosperous and secure, and give a new direction to development so that the state could lead the country.
He said amid challenges and adverse situations, crores of Gujaratis have kept the state growing and made it the country's growth engine.
The story of Gujarat is the story of sacrifice of numerous leaders, notable among them Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Shyamaji Krishna Verma, Sardarsinh Rana, Morarji Desai and Narendra Modi, Rupani said.
State Congress president Amit Chavda and other leaders of the opposition party marked the day by paying tribute to Yagnik.
"Our Gujarat -- Land of legends Mahatma Gandhi ji & Sardar Patel has always been at the forefront of spreading the message of love, peace and brotherhood! #GujaratDay," Chavda tweeted.
People celebrated the day by organising various events.
In Surat, students formed a human chain to depict the map of Gujarat and write, "Jai Garvi Gujarat".
To mark the day, as many 60 people have been selected for the "Gujarat Gaurav Ratna Award" for their contributions in the fields of art, literature and education, among others, by organisations like the Sri Shailesh Thaker Foundation, the Gujarat Public Affairs Council of Canada and the Gujarati Samaj of USA.
