New Delhi, Oct 31 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil today led the nation in paying homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 23rd death anniversary here.

Patil, along with Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, offered floral tributes to the late leader at her Shakti Sthal Memorial.

Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, Ajay Maken and Sriprakash Jaiswal, and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were among other Congress leaders and ministers who paid their respects to the country's first and to date only female Prime Minister.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi also offered floral tributes to his grandmother.

The day is also observed as Anti-Terrorism day.

Indira Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister of the country from 1966 to 1976 and again from 1980 to 1984, was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards at her residence on October 31, 1984.

She is noted for declaring a state of emergency after a court struck down her election in 1975, and also for her handling of the 'Operation Blue Star' against Sikh militants, which eventually resulted in her assassination. (ANI)