“Many a time I feel that we have forgotten the importance of Ahimsa. But it is a weapon that can make anybody powerful and strong,” the PM said flagging off the Ahimsa Divas Yatra, a march from Congress headquarters to Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat, to mark the 138th birth anniversary of the Mahatma. The PM also led the nation in paying homage to Gandhi at Rajghat.

“People may wonder of what use is non-violence in today’s times. But it is relevant even today as a way of life and in governing the country,” he said, adding that using non-violence Gandhi had turned the Independence movement into a fight of the common man.

Releasing a commemorative stamp, he expressed the hope that the global community will rediscover the relevance of the eternal message of Gandhi for fighting conflict, violence and terrorism. “Mahatma Gandhi’s message of love and peace, of non-violence and Satyagraha, of the equality of all people, of harmony between all religions, is a universal message. It is a message for all times, for all societies, for all peoples,” Singh said.

“As long as there is strife and injustice, as long as there is inequality and indignity in the human condition, as long as there is pain and suffering, as long as there is violence and hatred, the ideas and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi will resonate and find followers,” said the PM.

“Gandhiji’s message is more important today than ever before since nations across the world continue to grapple with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism. For as long as there is temptation to resort to violence in the human mind, the Mahatma’s message of non-violence will tug at our hearts,” he said.

... contd.