Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s bust (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial statue) at Piazza Gandhi in Rome.

“I am inspired by the ideals and principles of our Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi,” said Naveen. He is at present on an 11-day foreign trip.

Mahatma Gandhi. File picture

The chief minister’s office in a press release said in 2018 during the first meeting of the national committee for the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Naveen had proposed that the greatest tribute India could pay Gandhiji was to include the uniquely Indian ideal of Ahimsa, of non-violence, in the preamble of the Indian Constitution.

He at that time also quoted Gandhi that there can be no progress without peace.

In 2019, Naveen unveiled the Gandhiji Talisman in the Lok Seva Bhavan in Odisha. At that time he had said that the Talisman would inspire all to work selflessly for the cause of the poorest of the poor.