Like awarding Savarkar and Godse: Cong opposes Gandhi Peace Prize to Gita Press

prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 has been awarded to Gita Press, Gorakhpur, one of world's largest publishers. anuncement me by Indian government on Sunday recognized outstanding contribution of Gita Press towards social, ecomic, and political transformation through n-violent and or Gandhian methods.

However, Congress party opposed prize to Gita Press by calling decision a "travesty" and saying that giving Gandhi Peace Prize to publishing house is like awarding VD Savarkar and Nathuram Godse. Congress leer and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh referred to book "Gita Press And Making Of Hindu India," which he claimed delves into historical relationship between Gita Press and Mahatma Gandhi. Ramesh argued that book highlighted "stormy relations" publishing house h with Gandhi.

" Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 has been conferred on Gita Press at Gorakhpur which is celebrating its centenary this year. re is a very fine biography from 2015 of this organisation by Akshaya Mukul in which he unearths stormy relations it h with Mahatma and running battles it carried on with him on his political, religious & social nda," Congress leer tweeted.

Attacking government's decision to confer prize to Gita Press, he said, " decision is really a travesty and is like awarding Savarkar and Godse."

PM Modi praises Gita Press

Gita Press, established in 1923, holds a significant place in publishing industry as one of world's largest publishers. Over years, it has published an impressive 41.7 crore books in 14 langus, including 16.21 crore copies of Shrim Bhagav Gita.

"Gandhi Peace Prize 2021, recognizes important and unparalleled contribution of Gita Press, in contributing to collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in a true sense," government statement re.

After anuncement of Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 to Gita Press, PM Modi congratulated publishing house. "y have done commendable work over last 100 years towards furring social and cultural transformations among people," Prime Minister said.

Gandhi Peace Prize

Gandhi Peace Prize, instituted in 1995 on occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 125th Birth Anniversary, aims to hour individuals and organisations that embody ideals and principles vocated by great leer. award is open to all, irrespective of nationality, race, langu, caste, creed, or , and includes a cash prize of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque, and a tritional handicraft or handloom item.

Over years, Gandhi Peace Prize has been bestowed upon several rewned organizations and individuals from different countries who have exemplified values and principles cherished by Mahatma Gandhi. previous awardees include institutions such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Banglesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India and Sulabh International, New Delhi. 

It has also been awarded to luminaries like Late Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa,  Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania, AT Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Shramana Movement, Sri Lanka,  Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany, Baba Amte, John Hume, Ireland, Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Chandi Pras Bhatt and Yohei Sasakawa, Japan. Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (2020), Banglesh.