Modi, Rahul pay tributes to Indira Gandhi on birth anniversary

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tributes to Indira Gandhi, the country's first and only female Prime Minister.

Modi said in a tweet: "Tributes to our former PM lndira Gandhi on her birth anniversary."

Tributes to our former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji on her birth anniversary.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 19, 2019

Also in a tweet in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said that his "beloved grandmother" was blessed with a strong, capable leadership and amazing management ability.

सशक्त, समर्थ नेतृत्व और अद्भुत प्रबंधन क्षमता की धनी, भारत को एक सशक्त देश के रूप में, स्थापित करने में अहम भूमिका रखने वाली लौह-महिला और मेरी प्यारी दादी स्व० श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी जी की जयंती पर शत् शत् नमन।#IndiraGandhipic.twitter.com/7ezAIsSQ9N

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 19, 2019

He said she was an "iron woman who played a key role in establishing India as a strong country".

The Congress party also paid tributes to its late leader

"On her birth anniversary we pay homage to India's first female Prime Minister, the Late Indira Gandhi. Her will and determination led our country to great heights. Her contributions to India's national security, economy and foreign policy will always be cherished," the party tweeted.

She was born on this day in 1917 to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and his wife Kamala Nehru, a freedom fighter.

Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.