Secularism cannot be removed from the Preamble to the Constitution as being suggested by some and Nathuram Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi cannot be honoured in any form, former Personal Secretary to Gandhiji V. Kalyanam said in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
The 93-year-old Gandhian and freedom fighter made these observations while participating in the martyrs' day programmes organised by Andhra University's Gandhian Studies Centre and Uttarandhra Journalists Front, on the occasion of Gandhi's 68th death anniversary.
After describing his four-year association with Gandhiji till his assassination and recalling many anecdotes, Mr. Kalyanam said it would take another 1000 years to see another Gandhiji who had sacrificed every thing for the country and propagated non-violence and equality. Gandhiji had practiced before he preached and wanted communal harmony but now some were seeking Hindu Rashtra and were of the opinion that secularism could be removed from the preamble of Constitution, he regretted.
' Swachh Bharat' not new
He also observed during the meeting that it was not proper to spend Rs. 1 lakh crore to make India clean. Instead we should make the officers and employees of all local bodies and Gram panachayats discharge their duties properly and people should keep their houses clean and tidy. Gandhiji had done so and Swachh Bharat was not new.
At the UJF programme, he added that there was misrule during the last seven years during the Congress regime and the party had not followed the Gandhian principles. He hoped the BJP-led Government would follow the Gandhian principles and do good to the country.
On the proposal for building a temple for Godse, he said it was condemnable and reminded that Godse himself declared that he had killed Gandhi. Hence no temple for him or naming a street or colony or building after him should be allowed, Mr. Kalyanam said.
At Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju thanked Mr. Kalyanam for his visit. Principal of AU College of Arts and Commerce Satya Raju and Programme Coordinator of Gandhian Studies Centre A.B.S.V. Ranga Rao also spoke.
At the UJF programme organised along with people's organisations, Mr. Kalyanam garlanded the statue of Gandhiji in front of the GVMC main building. Convenor of Forum for Better Visakha and former IES officer C.S. Rao, UJF president MRN Varma, secretary N. Nageswara Rao and others were present.
