Hamid Ansari pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at source of river Nile

By Amit Shankar Jinja [Uganda], Feb. 23 (ANI): Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari today paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the source of river Nile in Jinja where his mortal remains were immersed in 1948. Interacting with the media here, Vice President Ansari said, "It is a world tourist spot. There are several tourist lodges here and a lot of people come here." He further said the Indian population in Uganda is very well established and there is a great link between both sides. Vice President Ansari also planted a sapling after offering flowers at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Jinja, which houses a significant Indian population. The bust inaugurated by the then prime minister I.K. Gujral in 1997 was an idea of the Indian community in Uganda in collaboration with the Indian Government. The plaque below reads: "Universal apostle of peace and non-violence whose ashes were immersed in the River Nile in 1948." The bust has since been maintained by the Bank of Baroda here. Gandhi spent 21 years in Africa, where he developed his political views, ethics and leadership skills. The Vice President is presently in Uganda as part of his two-nation visit to the African continent. He visited Rwanda during the first leg of his tour during which both nations signed three agreements to boost business and economic ties. (ANI)