Daily Times

Sir: When Mahatma Gandhi launched his non-violent movement to end the British colonial rule in India, he rejected all violence in the name of freedom struggle. Here are his own words: “If India makes violence her creed, I will not care to live in India. She will fail to evoke any pride in me.” Faithful to his words, Gandhi gained India’s independence without taking a single British life. Unfortunately, Gandhi was himself assassinated by a Hindu extremist, Nathuram Godse, who thought Gandhi’s compassion for India’s Muslim minority was hurting the Hindu majority. Gandhi sacrificed his life to protect the Muslim minority.

In the Republican primaries, the real estate tycoon Donald Trump accused the party establishment of rigging the process and threatened violence if he was not nominated. He won the required delegates and was chosen despite the reluctance of many Republicans who considered him as a threat. Now he is accusing the Democrats and media of rigging the election and threatening violence if he loses because of that. He has a strong base of 40 percent white blue-collar supporters who seem to agree with him. In a country awash with firearms, the implication of such a threat is enormous.

Interestingly, while Gandhi was assassinated by a fellow Indian, the greatest tribute to him was paid by his former adversary, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last British viceroy of India: “His life was one of love, toleration and nonviolence. India — indeed the world — will not see the likes of him again, perhaps for centuries.” It may be too much to ask but America needs its own Gandhi to avert a bloodbath in the name of fair election.

MAHMOOD ELAHI

Ottawa, Canada