Include Ahimsa In Preamble As Tribute To Gandhi: Naveen

New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the most important aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine of non-violence is that poverty and social injustice are the greatest violence.

“As Gandhiji said as long as poverty exists, freedom is only a wooden loaf. To remove poverty is the greatest task faced by any government. This cannot be achieved without non-violence,” he said while addressing the chief ministers’ meeting to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi which was presided over by the President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

Pointing out that peace is the key to progress, the chief minister said progress requires the defeat of those who divide society on the basis of class, caste or religion.

“I believe the greatest tribute India could pay Gandhiji on his 150^th birth anniversary is to include the ‘uniquely’ Indian ideal of Ahimsa (non-violence) in the preamble of the Indian Constitution. This will ensure that the future generations not only of the Indians but also the people around the world will be reminded of the profound truth of this principle,” he added.

The 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation will be celebrated in 2019.