"Let us reaffirm our pledge to uphold peace": Mallikarjun Kharge on International Day of Peace

New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI): Marking the observance of International Day of Peace, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that embracing diversity and fostering inclusive cooperation are the strongest weapons against war and inequality.
"On this International Day of Peace, as conflict and division scar our world, let us reaffirm our pledge to uphold peace, non-violence, and unity. Gandhi ji's timeless philosophy of Ahimsa offers a remedy to hatred and violence--an eternal value rooted in India's civilizational ethos," Kharge said in a post on X.
"India's legacy of championing peace and dialogue reminds us that embracing diversity and fostering inclusive cooperation are the strongest weapons against war and inequality," he added.
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire. The theme this year is "Act Now for a Peaceful World."
Earlier this month, ahead of the International Day of Peace, the UN Secretary-General appealed for greater efforts towards peace in a "fractured world" where conflicts are increasing.
Antonio Guterres issued the call during the annual ceremony on the grounds of the UN Headquarters in New York to ring the Peace Bell.
Pursuing the cause of peace is "the beating heart" of the Organisation, but today, peace is under siege, he said.
"Conflicts are multiplying. Civilians are suffering. Human rights and international law are being trampled - leaving scenes that disgrace our common humanity."
"We know that peace doesn't happen by accident," the Secretary-General said. "It is forged - through courage, compromise, and above all, action."
He called for action "to silence the guns", amplify diplomacy, protect civilians and uphold the UN Charter.
"We must act - to tackle the root causes of conflict - from inequality and exclusion, to hate speech, and climate chaos. We must act - to invest in prevention, dialogue and trust," he continued.
"And we must act to support the peacebuilders - especially women and young people - who are on the frontlines of hope." (ANI)