Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday suggested that adding the word ‘Ahimsa’ (Non-Violence) to Indian constitution would be the best way to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
"I believe the greatest tribute India could pay Gandhiji on his 150th Anniversary is to include the uniquely Indian idea of Ahimsa, Non-Violence in the Preamble of India's Constitution," Patnaik said at the first meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which was chaired by President Ramnath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan
The Chief Minister said this will ensure that the future generations, not just Indians but also people around the world, will be reminded of the profound truth of this principle. Patnaik said that 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 a wooden loaf. To remove poverty is the greatest task faced by any government. This cannot be achieved without non-violence.Progress requires peace. Progress requires the defeat of those who divide society on the basis of class, caste or religion," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, Chief Ministers of many states and other eminent personalities also attended the meeting.
It is to be noted that the anniversary celebrations will commence from October 2, 2019 and the government plans to organize various programmes ahead this year to mark the important occasion.
PM Modi had earlier urged Chief Ministers of all the states to use the preceding year i.e. is 2018, to rededicate to the ideals Mahatma taught and lived by and also to bring his message alive for the generations across the world that did not have the privilege of living during his lifetime.