Politics dominates Gandhi Jayanti celebrations
The 149th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday were marked by two contesting narratives in remembering him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said political leadership accompanied by public funding, partnership and people's participation could help the world in achieving total sanitation. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi aimed to unite the country but the PM was working to divide it.
The 149th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday were marked by two contesting narratives in remembering his contribution.
Addressing the concluding session of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention here, PM Narendra Modi said political leadership accompanied by public funding, partnerships and people's participation can help the world achieve total sanitation.
Elaborating on the success of his government’s “Clean India” campaign, Modi said India’s share in the world's population, which practiced open defecation, was 60 per cent till four years ago. This has now come down to below 20 per cent. Modi said the Mahatma's principle of "ahimsa" has the power to unite humanity when terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and mindless hate are dividing nations.
At the meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Sevagram, an ashram that the Mahatma set up in 1936 in Maharashtra's Wardha district, the party resolved to fight a second freedom struggle against the Modi government. At a public rally inWardha to mark Congress' efforts to commemorate the Mahatma's 150th birth anniversary, party chief Rahul Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi aimed to unite the country but Prime Minister Modi was working to divide it. He asked the PM to talk about the Rafale fighter jet controversy. He said the Modi government waived loans worth ~3.2 trillion of capitalists who were close to it, but did not write off the debts of farmers. “You tried Modi (gave him a chance)...he broke your trust. Now, trust the Congress, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology to take India forward,” Rahul said.
In New Delhi, the PM and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched a five-minute medley of the Mahatma's favourite hymn, which has been sung by singers of 40 countries. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also present.
The PM also penned a blog on the occasion. Over the past four years, 1.3 billion Indians have paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in the form of the Swachh Bharat Mission and it has emerged as a vibrant mass movement with commendable outcomes, the PM said. Over 85 million households now have access to toilets for the first time, he said.
The CWC passed two resolutions, including one in support of the protesting farmers. In its first resolution, it noted that the CWC on July 14, 1942, met at Sevagram and adopted the 'Quit India' resolution demanding immediate independence for our country. The Quit India Movement was launched a month later on August 9, 1942.