WORLD NEWS | PM Modi unveils bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima, site of world’s first nuclear attack

HIROSHIMA, May 20 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the Japanese city on Saturday, saying Gandhi’s ideals of peace and harmony resonated globally , and empowering millions.

The location of the bust of Gandhi was chosen as a symbol of peace and non-violent unity. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, destroying the city and killing approximately 140,000 people.

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Modi also told reporters after unveiling the bust that even today, hearing the word Hiroshima scares the world.

The bust was presented to Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan on the occasion of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Hiroshima for the G7 summit.

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“Inaugurated the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima. This bust in Hiroshima has a very important message. Gandhi’s ideals of peace and harmony echoed across the globe and brought strength to millions,” the Prime Minister said in a statement tweeted.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the bust was a fitting tribute to a city that symbolized humanity’s desire for peace.

This 42-inch tall bronze bust was sculpted by Padma Bhushan laureate Ram Vanji Sutar. The bust site borders the Motoyasu River, near the iconic A-Bomb Dome, and is visited by thousands of people – locals and tourists – every day.

Gandhi devoted his life to peace and non-violence. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the site truly resonated with Gandhi’s principles and life, which continue to inspire the world and its leaders.

After unveiling the bust, Modi presented flowers to Gandhi.

He thanked the mayor and the Japanese government for the opportunity to unveil the bust of Gandhi, and said he would promote the concept of non-violence.

“It is a great moment for me to know that the bodhi tree that I gifted to the Prime Minister of Japan has been planted in Hiroshima, so that people who come here can understand the importance of peace. I salute Mahatma Gandhi,” Modi explain.

Modi also held bilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, focusing on how to work together to address various global challenges during the G7 and G20 presidencies.

Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday, the first leg of a three-nation tour of Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia, and is expected to take part in more than 40 contacts.

Modi will visit Hiroshima from May 19-21, mainly for the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies, where he is expected to speak on challenges facing the world, including food, fertilizer and energy security.

He will hold bilateral talks with some of the world leaders attending the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

The G7 group includes Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)