Mahatma Gandhi's sculpture to be unveiled in Croatia on Oct 2

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said that a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi, gifted to Croatia to mark the 150 birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, will be unveiled here on October 2 this year.

Kovind, who's currently on his official trip to Croatia, made this statement at the University of Zagreb on Wednesday.

"This year, we are celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation. For him, knowledge and education were about understanding the oneness of humanity and about harnessing the power of truth. On October 2, his bust would be unveiled in your historic capital. I do hope you will join the celebrations to remember his legacy, and to imbibe his universal values," he told the gathering.

The Indian President also advocated for a new age partnership between India and Croatia, which is anchored in economic synergies, geopolitical realities, technology, innovation, and fourth Industrial Revolution.

"Our cultural connections are a matter of immense pride for us. On these strong foundations, we now have to build a new-age partnership, a partnership anchored in economic synergies, in geopolitical realities, in technology and innovation, in sustainability and the fourth Industrial Revolution, and in the strengths and priorities of the two countries," Kovind said.

Before his address at the university, Kovind attended the India-Croatia Business Forum, along with his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. On Tuesday, both the leaders held talks following which four memoranda of understanding were signed between India and Croatia.

The President is currently on a three-country trip to Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile from March 25 to April 4. He is the first Indian President to visit Croatia and Bolivia. He will now embark on the second leg of his tour to Latin America on March 28.