PM speaks to Gandhi’s kin living in old-age home

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday spoke to Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Kanubhai Gandhi, who is living in an old-age home here with his wife, and directed culture minister Mahesh Sharma to meet him.

Accordingly, Mr Sharma met Kanubhai and spent about 45 minutes with him at Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram at Gautampuri in South Delhi.

After the conversation, the PM directed the authorities to ensure that the couple has a comfortable stay.

“PM has taken note of reports about Shri Kanubhai Gandhi. He asked minister Mahesh Sharma to meet Kanubhai,” the PMO tweeted.

“Prime Minister and Kanubhai had a long conversation. They spoke in Gujarati and had a very pleasant discussion,” the PMO said in another tweet.

Later, Kanubhai said that he is an old follower of Mr Modi and he (Modi) remembered all the help I had extended to him.

At that time Sonia Gandhi was against both of us, he said, adding that “Modi understood everything in Gujarati.”

Mr Sharma later said Mr Modi offered “all support” to the couple. On Saturday, Delhi’s SC/ST welfare and women and child welfare minister Sandeep Kumar had visited them.

After over four decades of stay in the United States, Kanubhai (87) and his 85-year-old wife Shiva Lakshmi Gandhi had returned to India in 2014 and spent about a year-and-a-half in various Ashrams in Gujarat before checking into Delhi ashram on May 8. Kanubhai is the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi’s third son Ramdas.