PM Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi pay tribute to Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday paid tribute to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary and recalled his role in the freedom struggle.

"On his birth anniversary, tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. We recall his role in the freedom struggle and efforts towards nation building," Modi said.

Gandhi also paid tributes to the memory of Azad, saying "Maulana Sahab was an outstanding thinker, scholar, educationist and patriot". 

Remembering him as a strong believer of inter-faith unity, Gandhi said: "Secularism, religious freedom and equality were matters close to his heart".

During the Quit India movement, Maulana Azad gave decisive leadership to the Congress Party and Indian freedom movement, Gandhi noted.