New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam on April 14 led the nation in paying homage to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 112th birth anniversary.

The President paid floral tributes at the statue of Ambedkar in the Parliament House lawns, amid chanting of Buddhist hymns and songs of unity and integrity.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptulla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sonia Gandhi, her Rajya Sabha counterpart Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister V P Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and a host of Union Ministers including Sushma Swaraj, Ram Naik and Satyanarain Jatiya were present on the occasion.

Kalam also met a large group of monks, including those from Sri Lanka and Japan, who had gathered to render the religious hymns.

Hundreds of people, who had gathered outside the Parliament House complex, also paid floral tributes at the statue later.

PTI