Tue Oct 15 20:23:10 UTC 2024: ## Congress Rejects Shankaracharya’s Comments on Mahatma Gandhi, Calls Him “Father of the Nation”
**Raipur, Chhattisgarh:** The Congress party has rejected the recent comments of Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s status as the “Father of the Nation.” While acknowledging the Shankaracharya’s position as a prominent religious leader, the Congress maintains that his opinions on political matters are not necessarily binding.
During a recent visit to Raipur, the Shankaracharya had stated that while Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, is considered the father of that nation due to its recent creation, the term “Father of the Nation” does not apply to Mahatma Gandhi, as India existed before him. The Shankaracharya further argued that no individual can be designated as the “Father of the Nation” in India.
In response, Congress state media head, Sushil Anand Shukla, emphasized that Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement, leading it with the principle of non-violence. He highlighted Gandhi’s monumental achievement in forcing the British Empire to relinquish its hold on India through peaceful resistance.
Shukla asserted that Mahatma Gandhi is revered as the “Father of the Nation” by the people of India and that no legal or constitutional formality is required to validate this title. He pointed to the widespread recognition and respect Gandhi enjoys globally, with his ideology and statues honored in over 80 countries.
Shukla concluded by stating that Gandhi’s innovative contributions to Indian politics continue to be discussed and studied even today, and that no one needs to issue a certificate to acknowledge his rightful place as the “Father of the Nation.”
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