Gandhian Values Relevant Forever: Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that Gandhian thoughts are relevant not yesterday or today but forever.

“The noble thoughts of the Father of the Nation had relevance and will remain so forever. If we imbibe the principles of non-violence, we will be able to set aside all our problems,” Naveen said while addressing a state-level programme ‘Gandhi and National Integration’ on the occasion of the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi here.

Expressing happiness over his meeting with eminent freedom fighters of Odisha on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Chief Minister said he had reiterated his demand to incorporate the word ‘non-violence’ in the preamble of the Constitution. “There has been a massive signature campaign in support of my demand for which I thank the people of my state,” he added.

Speaking about the ideology of Gandhi, Naveen said, “Bapuji was not a political personality. Rather, he was a great saint and social reformer. He had kept India as one nation through his mesmerising personality. He was a true symbol of all caste, creed, language, region and national integration. Apart from his mission to make India free from the foreign rule, he also worked twoards creating a healthy society to make the country stronger and free from poverty, violence, injustice and inequality.”

He urged the people to work together to fulfil the long-cherished dream of Gandhi which will be a fitting tribute to him.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister and the Governor Ganeshi Lal offered floral tribute to the statue of Gandhi on the premises of the State Assembly.