At least 475 personalities from various fields in Assam have issued an appeal on Mahatma Gandhi’s 76th death anniversary “to uphold” his principles because the “present regime” has been “tacitly trying to undermine Gandhiji and his legacy” since 2014, the year the BJP-led coalition came to power at the Centre.

The development assumes significance because this group of “concerned citizens” is planning to ensure Gandhi’s message of “truth, non-violence, brotherhood and justice to all” reaches the last man in the line.

This group includes “99 per cent” of those who condemned the “obstruction/attack” on the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra during its journey through Assam. Over 100 eminent personalities condemned the obstructions, prompting Rahul to thank the “100 voices” that have “spoken against hatred and violence” last Wednesday.

The statement by this group on Monday night, starts with the appeal, “Let us uphold the principles of Gandhism” and then states that “Gandhiji was the tallest leader of the freedom movement. Finally, after years of struggle, the British had to leave the country and we gained our freedom. But, freedom came at the cost of partition of the country.”

“The moment of the celebration of freedom was marred by widespread communal violence. At that crisis, when the leaders of the freedom movement were hoisting the Indian flag in Delhi,Gandhiji was in remote villages dousing communal violence.”