Chandigarh, October 2 - Haryana Governor, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya said in order to eradicate the sense of animosity that is spreading among people and foster brotherhood and mutual peace, the nation, the globe, and society today must follow the path of non-violence as shown by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Governor was speaking on the occasion of the 154th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi organized at Haryana Raj Bhavan here today. He paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by offering floral tributes to his portrait. During the occasion, he also paid a heartfelt tribute to the second Prime Minister of India, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.

Governor, Sh. Dattatraya said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi taught us the value of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect along with his ideals of non-violence, freedom, equality. He gave the message of peace to humanity by following the path of truth and non-violence shown by Mahatma Buddha. Along with this, Gandhi launched several movements to unite and strengthen the country in the thread of national unity.

Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal also paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his birth anniversary saying that his ideals of “inclusivity, social justice and equality” have remained “relevant even today”. CM also paid tribute to the Former Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.

The Chief Minister called upon the youth to follow Mahatma Gandhi's footsteps and take a pledge to strive for the development of the nation and the state. He said that this will be our real tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.

On this occasion, Ramdhun and singing of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymns along with all religion prayer meet was held. Religious preachers of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh religions gave the message of unity and integrity for the country through sermons and hymns.

On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sh. TVSN Prasad, Commissioner and Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Director General of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Secretary to the Governor, Sh. Atul Kumar, Chairman, Haryana Pond Authority, Smt. Keshni Anand Arora besides other senior officers were present.