Prominent Gandhians have expressed concern over the present overall situation in India and said only the Gandhian ideology and philosophy could effectively counter the hatred, intolerance and violence. They were huddled here on Monday to mark the beginning of the centenary of Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha.
Setting the tone of the three-hour long discussion at the newly constructed Gyan Bhavan in Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the Gandhians should work out an agenda for strengthening the secular and social fabric of the nation and to remove the fear and hatred created in the society. “In such a vitiated atmosphere only the Gandhian values and thoughts can bring positive change,” he said and added that those having no faith in Gandhi and his ideologies were chanting name of Gandhi because his name sells. The CM also vowed to begin movement against social evils like child marriage and dowry after a successful campaign against liquor. F
Former West Bengal Governor and Mahtma’s grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi said Bihar had been showing light in the darkness but now there was darkness in the light and hoped that once again Bihar would show the light. He was highly critical of the forcible compulsion of Aadhaar number and warned that it might turn a dangerous weapon and could be misused. He was equally critical of the acquisition of land for industrial houses by bringing ordinances. “A real Gandhian is one who follows his ideas without taking his name,” he said.
Retired judge Chandrashekhar Dharmidhikari in a scathing attack on the Central Government said a broom could clean the garbage on the streets but what about the filth in the hearts. “Today those people enjoy more respect who break law,” he said and asked the people not to make Gandhi a God and let him remain a human being.
Others who also spoke included Medha Patekar, Sachchidanand Sinha, Prerna Desai and Subba Rao. Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Education Ministry Ashok Chaudhary, Gandhi Shanti Pratishthan, New Delhi president Kumar Prashant conducted the session.