Gandhi's ideas influenced release of Lockerbie bomber

Prasun Sonwalkar

London, Oct 18 (PTI) The recent release of the alleged
Lockerbie bomber was in line with Mahatma Gandhi's principles
of compassion and non-violence, Scotland First Minister Alex
Salmond has said.

Speaking during a conference of his Scottish National
Party, in Inverness, Salmond said that the Scottish justice
secretary Kenny MacAskill was right in deciding to release
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds in
August.

Salmond recalled the recent visit of Mahatma Gandhi's
grandson, Arun Gandhi to Scotland and said, "One of the things
he told me is that his grandfather's philosophy is much
misunderstood. His resistance was not passive, but active. His
dedication to non-violence a strength, not a weakness".

Salmond continued in the Gandhian mode, "Sometimes,
someone has to break the cycle of retribution with an act of
compassion - that is what Kenny MacAskill did and we should be
proud of him for doing it."

Earlier, Salmond said he will consider a proposal to set
up a Scottish centre for non-violence, peace and
reconciliation after a meeting with Arun Gandhi.

Gandhi, 74, was in Scotland to deliver lectures at the
universities of Edinburgh, Dundee and Queen Margaret. He
addressed a conference at Napier University on the Gandhian
approach to ethical leadership. PTI PS
DDC


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