NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to former President Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. PM Modi described Mukherjee as “a towering statesman and a scholar of exceptional depth” who served India with unwavering dedication across decades of public life.“Tributes to Shri Pranab Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. A towering statesman and a scholar of exceptional depth, he served India with unwavering dedication across decades of public life. Pranab Babu’s intellect and clarity of thought enriched our democracy at every step. It’s a privilege that I got to learn so much from him over the many years we interacted,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.Union home minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to the former President. In a social media post, Shah lauded the late leader for his dedication to public service, saying, “Mukherjee Ji’s profound understanding of the Constitution defined his tenures in public offices. His life and works will continue to inspire our democratic journey.”Pranab Mukherjee served as India’s 13th President from 2012 to 2017. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he also held several key ministerial portfolios in the Union Government.