British foreign secy pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond today visited Gandhi Darshan museum and paid tribute to the Father of the Nation two days before a statue of his is to be unveiled at Parliament Square in London.

Hammond, who is on an official visit to India, was accompanied by British High Commissioner to India, James Bevan, during his visit on the 85th anniversary of the historic Dandi March.

"That statue (in London) will be a tribute to the inspiration Gandhi provided, not only to India, but to the people of the world," Hammond said.

Hammond also signed the visitors' book, in which he wrote, "It is fitting that the man (Mahatma Gandhi) who founded the world's largest democracy, should look across the square at the world's oldest parliament (in Britain)".

The museum houses the boat in which Gandhi crossed the river Mahi during the the Dandi March and other priceless photographs.