India pays homage to Gandhiji

Pandit Nehru called upon the people to make up their minds… They could not shout “Mahatma Gandhi-ki-jai” and pursue a policy of hatred towards their own brethren. The country had suffered incalculable harm at the hands of those who had been breaking the law and disturbing the peace. That could not be tolerated any more, the Prime Minister said. The question before them at present was not one of avenging the death of their kith and kin across the border nor of saving the lives of those who had arrived in the Indian Union, but one in which the whole future and independence of the country was at stake. The people must face the facts, control their passions and work honestly to save the country from ruin.

Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, he said, had carried them through in their fight against foreign domination and they could be relied upon to be the right principles even when that struggle was over.

Gandhiji’s teachings and principles are of a fundamental nature and they do not outlive their utility simply because the situation now is changed.

The Congress had not driven the British out of India to hand it over to anarchy and lawlessness. It plans to establish here the rule of the common man with economic and political freedom for all. But instead of starting nation building activities the people were destroying whatever little they possessed.

Pandit Nehru once again expressed his emphatic opposition to the demand for making India a Hindu State. The views on the subject which he expressed, he said, were not only his personal views but have the support of his Government and the entire Congress organisation. The demand for a Hindu State was not only stupid and medieval but also Fascist in character. Those who put forth such ideas would have the same fate as Hitler and Mussolini.

The real danger to India, he added, was not from Pakistan as was being feared in certain quarters, but from a section of Indians themselves who were acting foolishly and treacherously. “The greatest enemy of India and the biggest traitor today is one who breaks the peace of the country.”…

(Concluded)