New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi led the nation to pay homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 18th death anniversary today.

Sonia Gandhi was among the first to arrive at Veerbhmi, the memorial of the charismatic leader.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several Congress leaders also paid floral tributes to the late leader.

A series of functions have been organised to mark the occasion.

The day is also being observed as Anti-Terrorism Day. Seminars and discussions are organised against terrorism and a pledge would be administered to people against terrorism and for maintaining peace.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign. (ANI)