20 Feb :Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence is as relevant today as it was fifty years ago when the world is fighting terrorism, said Martin Luthar King III during his visit to the Sabaramati Ashram at Ahmedabad.
Referring to the spread of terrorism, King said, "This is a critical state in history of the world where message of Gandhi is needed as much now as it was 50 years ago."
"Seeds of non-violence are being sown around the world. People want to embrace Ganhiji’s message to stamp out terrorism through love and non-violence," King told reporters during his day-long visit to the city on Friday.
King is on a visit to the Gandhi Ashram to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr 1959 tour to India where he had visited the same Ashram.
He said that he is humbled and honoured to be in the city were Gandhiji worked, lived and from where the great salt march began.The civil rights activist said that people around the world know that "non-violence works".
King thanked Gandhiji for giving the world the message of love and non-violence, and assured that he would continue to spread this message of peace in which his late father and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr and Gandhiji firmly believed in.
When asked if the attack on Iraq by US was the right method to combat terrorism, King said that it was not the appropriate approach by the American government.
"I cannot speak for the US government, but I, as Martin Luther King III, son of Martin Luther King Jr, have always believed that the approach to address terrorism by them (US government) was not the appropriate approach," King said.
He said that many in US believe that we (American forces) should not have gone there.
"A great tragedy has occurred. Some how we have to find a way to withdraw (from Iraq) and free those men and women and bring home the soldiers who have been fighting for their country," King said.
"We now need to find a way to build bridges with the Iraqi brothers and sisters," he added.
Congressman John Lewis, who is part of the delegation visiting India with King III and worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr, said "It’s like walking on holy ground to pay homage to the great man whose message (of non-violence) has changed the world".
Earlier, King along with the delegation visited the Gujarat Vidhyapith founded by the Father of the Nation.
While interacting with students there, King said that he visits countries in the world as a tourist, but when he came to India it was like coming for a pilgrimage.