Hyderabad: TPCC President and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud said Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary was an occasion for people across the world to reaffirm their commitment to peace. He made the remarks at the 157th birth anniversary celebrations at L.B. Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also attended the programme. The leaders opened the celebrations by lighting a ceremonial lamp. They then paid floral tributes to Gandhi’s portrait and recalled his contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
Mahesh Kumar Goud said Gandhi’s principles of truth, non-violence, peace and social equality continued to hold significance. He said democratic values could grow stronger when people put Gandhian principles into practice.
He said democracy remained strong and people-centric when society followed the path shown by Gandhi. Mahesh Kumar Goud also extended greetings to those serving society selflessly while drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s ideals.
He stressed that people had a responsibility to carry Gandhian values to future generations. He specifically referred to truth, non-violence, peace and tolerance.
Mahesh Kumar Goud stresses Gandhi’s message of equality and peace
The leaders later visited stalls that organisers had arranged on the stadium premises. They interacted with organisers and enquired about the programmes and exhibitions. They also took particular interest in the “Young India Integrated Residential Schools” initiative.
Bhatti Vikramarka said Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, Satyagraha, equality and social justice continued to guide people across the world. He called for efforts to create a society without inequality, discrimination and indignity.
Bhatti expressed concern over what he described as attempts to endorse the ideology of Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Gandhi. He said true patriots should not accept a culture that criticised Gandhi while portraying Godse’s views as correct.
He urged people to oppose attempts to propagate Godse’s ideology. According to Bhatti, such an ideology stood against Gandhi’s principles. He also highlighted Gandhi’s leadership, Satyagraha and commitment to non-violence during the freedom struggle.
Bhatti criticised BJP leaders, alleging that they had neither walked alongside Gandhi nor had any connection with the freedom movement of that period. He accused them of attempting to distort history.
He also recalled Gandhi’s experience in South Africa, where officials threw him off a train at Pietermaritzburg railway station after he refused to leave a first-class compartment despite holding a valid ticket. Bhatti said the incident became a turning point in Gandhi’s life and influenced his later struggle against racial discrimination and injustice.