IICD charges Admn with 'denigration' of Gandhiji

Puducherry, Oct 3 (UNI) The Puducherry-based Indian Institute of Community Development (IICD) today charged the territorial administration with ''denigrating'' Mahatma Gandhi to the second place by celebrating Gandhi Jayanthi at 1115 hrs after observing the death anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj here yesterday.

In a letter to the Lt Governor, IICD Chairman V A Vasudevaraju pointed out that it was a practice all over the country to celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi in the morning.

However, in Puducherry, Gandhi Jayanthi was celebrated at 1115 hrs and that too, after observing the death anniversary of Mr Kamaraj, he said, adding that ''no one however great, in the country can be treated as equal or on par with Gandhiji.'' He urged the Lt Governor to issue standing orders to the department organising the function that in future, Gandhi Jayanthi celebration should be held at 0830 hrs and no other programme should precede it.

An apology for committing this ''mistake'' by whomsoever responsible was also due to the public, he added.

UNI