Naveen Patnaik proposes amendment to include Ahimsa in Constitution preamble

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday proposed to amend the Indian Constitution to include ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) in the preamble as a mark of tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

“I believe the greatest tribute India could pay Gandhiji on his 150th anniversary is to include the essentially Indian principle of Ahimsa, non-violence, in the preamble of India’s constitution,” said Naveen.

The chief minister was speaking at the first meeting of the committee for celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. President Ram Nath Kovind chaired the meeting that was also attended by vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others.

Naveen said the move of including Ahimsa in the preamble would ensure that future generations not just of Indians but people around the world, will be reminded of the profound truth of the principle.

Remembering the father of the nation, the chief minister said the most important aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s doctrine of non-violence is that poverty and social injustice are the greatest violence.

“As Gandhiji said, as long as poverty exists freedom is only a wooden loaf. To remove poverty is the greatest task faced by any government. This cannot be achieved without non-violence,” Naveen said.

Emphasizing on peace for progress of any country, Naveen also said progress requires peace and progress requires the defeat of those who divide society on the basis of class, caste or religion.

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