Mahatma Gandhi was also in favour of providing self-determination rights to the people of Kashmir. Dr. Ramesh Wankwani

Patron-in-chief Pakistan Hindu Council Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani has paid rich tribute to founding father of India Mahatma Gandhi, saying that the great leader was a leading figure of peaceful freedom struggle against British imperialism. In his special message on the occasion of the 151st birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, prominent Hindu parliamentarian Dr Ramesh Kumar said that Gandhi was a friend of Pakistan and minority Muslims. “He whole-heartedly supported the Khilafat Movement to show solidarity with Muslim brothers and sisters, ” Dr Ramesh said.

Gandhi, in his letters to the founding father of Pakistan, used to address him as Quaid-e-Azam. He sacrificed his life for supporting Pakistan and protecting vulnerable Muslim community but didn’t compromise on peace-loving teachings of Hinduism. Dr Ramesh emphasized. Mahatma Gandhi also pressurized Indian leadership in the form of a hunger strike for providing a due amount of Rs. 55 Crore to Pakistani government. Dr. Ramesh Kumar said. During the violent riots in Delhi and other parts, Mahatma Gandhi himself visited affected areas for requesting people to not harm each other. Hundreds of peace-loving citizens, belonging to different religions, had signed a 7-point declaration in the presence of Gandhi to live peacefully and ensure protection of others.

Mahatma Gandhi was also in favour of providing self-determination rights to the people of Kashmir. During his visit to Srinagar on August 1, 1947, hundreds of locals came on roads to welcome him. In this regard, Gandhi clearly announced that Kashmiri people should be empowered to take decisions about their future. If they want to join Pakistan then no power in the world can stop them. Dr Ramesh Vankwani, in his special message, also mentioned that Gandhi, being a well-wisher of Pakistan, wanted to spend his remaining life in Pakistan. Gandhi, on the invitation of Chief Minister Sindh, Ayub Khorro, wanted to meet with Pakistani Hindu community. He also wanted to meet the Hindu community. Gandhi had called Pakistani Hindu community for ensuring respect to the national flag of Pakistan.

Regrettably, Mahatma Gandhi, a peace activist and legendary leader, was killed by extremists due to his kindness and peace-loving views. “Gandhi was a true follower of Hindu Dharma,” Dr Ramesh paid tribute to him, saying that today’s India is in fact in the trap of his extremist murderers. “On the one hand, Indian people are facing a number of socio-economic crises in the form of poverty, hunger and Covid-19, and on the other hand, the extremist policies of the Modi government regarding neighboring countries are destabilizing the entire region,” Dr Ramesh stated.

Today, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, the Pakistan Hindu Council, while rejecting the extremist policies of the present Indian leadership, makes it clear that Hindutva is not a religious teaching but a political ideology that was introduced by some Hitler-inspired extremists under the British rule. Majority of Hindus believe in peace, harmony, and love to all. Dr. Ramesh Vankwani further emphasized that the patriotic Pakistani Hindu community is committed to promote the peace vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Gandhi to counter the extremist policies of the Modi government on every platform.