UN declaration on Gandhi is momentous occasion for India: Congres

New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) The Congress Party today said the United Nations declaration of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (October 2) as "International Day of Non-Violence" is a "momentous occasion for the people of India and also the party." "It is indeed a collective tribute by the global community to the Father of the Nation and his principles," said Defence Minister A K Antony, who is also the Chairman of the Centenary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha in South Africa.

Mr Antony, accompanied by AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik, told mediapersons at the Congress headquarters here that the idea to observe "Gandhi Jayanthi" as an international event was mooted at the International Conference on "Peace, Non-Violence and Empowerment - Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century," which was organised by the party here in January this year as part of the Satyagraha centenary celebrations.

" We, the Indian National Congresss, shall continue to work for Peace, Non-Violence, Social harmony and Disarmament," said a resolution adopted today by the Satyagraha Centenary Committee and released at the press conference.

"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," it said.

The resolution thanked the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for adopting the declaration on June 15 to observe the Mahatma's birthday as "International Day of Non-Violence" on the basis of an appeal to this effect made by the Satyagraha Centenary Conference, attended by representatives of 90 countries and representatives from 122 organisations.

"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, " it said.

The resolution 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.

It quoted Congress President Sonia Gandhi as saying that 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." UNI