Hyderabad: 

Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of 152nd birth anniversary of Father of Nation, on the Assembly premises here on Saturday. He was accompanied by Legislative Affairs Minister V Prashanth Reddy, MLC K Kavitha and other legislators and MLCs.Addressing on the occasion, the Speaker said Telangana was achieved following the Gandhian principles and the State was progressing in all sectors. He appealed to the people to follow Gandhian principles of peace and non violence.Later, the Speaker participated in the Green India Challenge’s (GIC) initiative of planting a Jammi Chettu sapling on the Assembly premises. He said Jammi Chettu – the State Tree (Prosopis Cineraria) had religious significance and environmental importance. It has historical and cultural significance and was worshipped in many States for its medicinal and therapeutic qualities.He complimented Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar for launching the initiative to plantJammi Chettu saplings in each village and temple across the State.TRS working president and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao participated in a programme to offer tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Bapu Ghat.