From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 2: Paying homage to Mahatama Gandhi on his 148th birthday and also remembering the country’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 113th birth anniversary, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr G Parameshwara on Monday said Gandhi Jayanti was an occasion for introspection at multiple levels as what unites us as human beings is more important than what divides us. 

Offering floral tributes to both the leaders at the KPCC Office in Bengaluru on Monday, Dr Parameshwara said Gandhian thoughts are most relevant today than ever.  

“This is more so in the present context when multiple forces are working against peace, unity and brotherhood in the country and no less a person than the Prime Minister seems to thrive on the politics of hate,’’ he said.

Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree, KPCC Vice President Dr B L Shankar and other Congress leaders participated in the function at Congress Bhavan.

Taking a dig at the ruling BJP at the Centre, the KPCC Chief said: ``Creating differences, divisiveness and pitting people against each other on sectarian considerations appears to be BJP’s motto.’’

He said what we need to do as citizens is rededicate ourselves to focus and nurture the eternal concept of unity, solidarity and respect for all religions, castes and ethnic differences without any discrimination.

While Gandhiji strived for an India with no discrimination in the name of caste and religion, it is a sad commentary that the Central Government is forcing the Tribals, Dalits and Muslims to feel that they are not part of India’s vision, Dr Parameshwara said and lamented that, ``Unfortunately, radical Hindutva has become the dominant theme.’’

Mahatma Gandhi’s weapon for victory was Non-Violence, he said pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government seems to have forgotten that. 

"The so called Gau Rakshaks and Romeo Squads are killing innocent people, who are not free to eat or wear what they want,’’ he said.

Gandhiji once said ‘The restoration of free speech, free association and free press is almost the whole Swaraj.’ But what we are seeing today is totally opposite.

"Rights of media have been curtailed and independent voices have been muffled, crusaders of truth or champions of rational thought like Dabolkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh are wantonly killed. Their bravery to speak the truth is an inspiration to all of us,’’ he said asserting: ``Today, we must pay tributes to our founding fathers and all those who sacrificed their lives for this great country and standing up for truth.’’

Gandhiji's philosophy of non-violence and peaceful co-existence is of increasing relevance now than ever before, he said and lamented that the past four years of BJP rule at the Centre has seen the highest number of incidents of student unrest. 

Campuses meant to enlighten and nurture young minds, inculcate new political thoughts and ideas are being suppressed by using brute force.  Ironically, the students bold enough to voice their views fearlessly are sought to be shackled and even branded as anti-nationals, he said adding: ``BJP seems to be in a hurry to ban everything.’’

Mahatma Gandhi at a discourse on July 25, 1947 said: "How can I force anyone not to slaughter cows unless he is himself so disposed? It is not as if there were only Hindus in the Indian Union. There are Muslims, Parsis, Christians and other religious groups here.”

"Bapu’s thoughts and ideals seem to have been long forgotten by our BJP leaders. India belongs to all who live here, everyone deserves equal rights on what they wish to eat, wear and do. This has to be respected. That’s the core of democracy,’’ he said.

Dr Parameshwara said Gandhiji’s vision for development was based on multiple pillars, including cleanliness. While the incumbent government has focused on litter and garbage, they have been largely unsuccessful in understanding the deeper connotation of cleanliness which is more to do with a just society and clean minds, as much as public and personal hygiene. 

"Great leaders around the world take inspiration from the teaching and life of Gandhiji, while we the people of India, who revere him as the Father of the Nation, are ignoring his teachings as not relevant. His teachings are of honesty, integrity and kindness which can never be obsolete or irrelevant,’’ he added.