UN recognition to Gandhi is global tribute: Sonia

New Delhi, June 17: Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the UN declaration of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday as "International Day of Non-Violence" is a collective tribute by the global community to the Father of the Nation and his principles, six decades after he fell to the assassin's bullet.

In a statement here late last night, she said the adoption of the resolution to this effect by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on June 15 "is an occasion of immense global significance".

"The overwhelming support for this initiative by India is a measure of the universal acceptance of the principles that Mahatma Gandhi espoused throughout his life," Ms Gandhi said.

She said the initiative was taken by the Congress when it organised an International Conference on "Peace, Non-Violence and Empowerment - Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st century" in January this year to commemorate the Centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement in South Africa.

In this context, she thanked the UNGA for accepting the Declaration adopted at the Satyagraha Centenary Conference, attended by representatives of 90 countries and eminent world leaders, urging the UN to declare October two as the International Day of Non Violence.

"The tremendous support in favour of our appeal is a reflection of the international community's collective yearning for peace and continuing relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals in today's world confronted with violence, terrorism and intolerance. " Ms Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi sought to address the issues of the humanity through Satyagraha or the force of truth and through empowerment of the weak, the marginalised and the oppressed.

"His message is 'as old as the hills' and continues to be as relevant today as ever before." She said commemoration of the Mahatma's birthday globally "will provide a solemn occasion for all of us around the world, across nations, civilisations and cultures to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and to remind ourselves of the values, the principles and the methods he championed and adopted in his quest for peace and understanding. Mahatma Gandhi belonged to the entire world.

His message was the message of entire humanity. Let his message of peace, non-violence and universal brotherhood guide us all in our efforts towards establishing a world free from hatred and violence, a world united in mutual trust, harmony and friendship."

UNI