Srinagar,
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said the biggest tribute to Mahatma Gandhi would be to work for creating a society free from confrontation, violence and acrimony. She said his teachings were much more relevant today than before.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the National Committee for the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi next year, the Chief Minister lamented that over the years, the level of intolerance had increased. She said the need was to inculcate the values of tolerance, amity and reconciliation among the people, particularly the younger generation.

The meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday was chaired by President Ram Nath Kovind and attended by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and national leaders.

Mehbooba suggested celebrating 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as the year of peace, tolerance and non-violence. This, she said, would be the biggest tribute to the father of the nation, who, she said, lived and died for these values and principles.

She suggested special youth engagement in the country to educate them about varied aspects of the Mahatma’s life and his dealing of situations.