Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. Referring to the father of the nation as ‘a leader who turned his life into a message to the world,’ Pinarayi went on to explain why he believed that this year, Gandhi Jayanti celebrations assume greater significance in the wake of increased Hindu nationalism in the country.
“Some people are trying to take the country backwards from Gandhi’s ideals. Those who assassinated Gandhi are trying to reclaim him. They are manipulating Gandhi’s words to suit their interests. Considering these circumstances, this years Gandhi Jayanti assumes greater significance,” Pinarayi wrote.
He also urged every Indian to loudly state that they promised to uphold the father of the nation and his ideals this Gandhi Jayanti.
“Gandhiji saw all people - those from different backgrounds - as equal. With every step he he took, he attempted to uphold thur inclusive and expansive world view,” the CM added in his message.
India celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on Wednesday with top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to the father of the nation at Rajghat on Wednesday morning. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too paid tribute to the Mahatma at Rajghat.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off the Gandhi Sankal Yatra - a movement to shun single use plastics and addressed a rally at Shalimar Bagh in Delhi.
PM Modi is also scheduled to visit the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat and address 10,000 sarpanch’s in the evening.