Gandhi's message relevant to resolving world crises: UNGA President
United Nations, Oct 2 : Gandhi's name and image evoke the "concepts of peace, restraint and passivity, even in the face of violence and extremism" as the world faces both challenges and hopes, General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa said on Tuesday.
She was speaking at the Gandhi Jayanthi celebration that is observed here annually as the International Day of Nonviolence, where UN Postal System stamps were issued honouring the Gandhian concept of peace.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was, meanwhile, in New Delhi participating in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth.
Espinosa said, "At its heart, humanity yearns for peace and harmony, principles that Gandhi espoused, and recent developments have given us cause for hope."
The dialogue between the leaders of South and North Korea and the peace agreement between Djibouti and Eritrea were positive examples of trying to progress peace and an inspiration "for those countries still at odds, for those who would continue to pick up arms," she said.
"They required work and determination, they required compromise, patience, compassion and forgiveness," she said.
On the other hand, she said, "There are tragedies here too numerous to name, but on every account, it is heartbreaking."
She cited the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Central African Republic.
She said, "While at one time such crimes would shock the world, the sheer explosion of social media and, occasionally, questionable media, has left many people desensitized to the world around them. We cannot allow this to happen, not when the suffering of our brothers and sisters continues."
There were other calamities not directly caused by conflicts such as the 124 million people facing hunger, the 140 million people needing humanitarian assistance, and the over 30 million people who were displaced, either by disasters or by conflict, she added.
Amid these challenges, "I commit to working with the General Assembly and its related committees in ways that reflect Gandhi's view of change: 'You must be the change you want to see in the world,'" she declared.
The UN stamps have a painting of Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward's sculpture, the Knotted Gun, that is located at the UN headquarters.
UN Under-Secretary-General Jan Beagle said the stamps were "miniature works of art" and seek to raise awareness of nonviolence.
UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Adam Steiner said that the ideas that Gandhi represented are fundamental to the freedom of individuals and the aspirations of societies.
The relevance of Gandhi's legacy is reflected in the UN's sustainable development goals that encompass the spectrum of human condition.
Michael Nagler, the founder and president of the Metta Centre for Nonviolence, announced the launch of a year-long campaign using modern advertising techniques around the world to bring the concept of nonviolence into the mainstream, especially for the youth.
India's Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal said that the promotions of sanitation and solar power, which were taking place at international meetings in New Delhi were reflections of Gandhi's holistic visions for society.
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Commercial LPG hike: Delhi restaurant owners warn of higher menu rates, job losses
New Delhi (PTI) A day after a 50 per cent rise in commercial LPG cylinder prices, Delhi's food business, with restaurant owners and street vendors have warned of higher menu rates, financial strain and potential job losses if the trend persists.
The price of commercial LPG was hiked by a steep Rs 993 per 19 kg cylinder, marking the third consecutive monthly hike amid rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
For many in the restaurant industry, the spike has been both sudden and steep.
Manpreet Singh, honorary treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India, said that eateries are already grappling with supply challenges alongside rising costs.
"There is a huge difficulty in getting these cylinders, and black marketing is also increasing in many unregulated sectors," he said, noting that prices that were once around Rs 1,600, often dropping to nearly Rs 1,300 with discounts, have now surged to between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per cylinder.
He further added that a medium-sized restaurant typically uses between two and five cylinders daily, making the increase particularly burdensome as costs mount.
Singh further said that as costs mount, smaller establishments could struggle to stay afloat. Instead, the association has advised restaurants to shift towards piped natural gas connections through Indraprastha Gas Limited as a more sustainable alternative.
"If this problem continues, PNG is the only long-term solution," he said, adding that temporary measures like coal offer limited relief due to slower cooking times and that it can largely be used only for tandoors.
Echoing similar concerns, Kabir Suri, owner of Mamagoto in Khan Market, said the impact is already visible across the industry. "There has been almost a threefold increase in cylinder prices for restaurants," he said, adding that rising fuel and logistics costs are compounding the pressure.
"If this continues, it will become a significant financial burden, and food prices will inevitably go up. Adding to this burden, higher fuel costs are also affecting logistics and transportation, making a price rise unavoidable. The extent of the impact will vary between small eateries and large chains depending on their scale," he said.
Global oil prices have surged nearly 50 per cent following disruptions in energy supply chains due to the West Asia conflict, pushing up commercial fuel costs and transport expenses.
A West Delhi-based restaurateur said they are trying to manage rising costs while keeping their staff secure. "We are trying to ensure that our staff, from kitchen workers to waiters, are paid on time and do not face immediate hardship," the owner said.
"We are a small restaurant with seating for about 20 to 25 people at a time. But if this continues for long, we will have to take difficult calls. There is only so much we can absorb, and menu prices will have to go up. We hope this does not continue for a longer period," he said.
Another restaurant owner in North Delhi, who did not wish to be named, said operational adjustments alone may not be enough. "We are checking our costs very carefully and trying to cut wherever possible, but if fuel prices remain high, it will eventually affect how we run the business," the owner said.
"Coal helps in tandoor cooking, but it takes more time," the owner further added.
The strain is even more acute among street vendors, many of whom operate on thin margins. A vendor in Saket said he had recently expanded his business, moving from a mobile cart to a rented outlet.
"I have a family to feed and more responsibilities now. Earlier, I managed with a moving cart, but after renting the place, expenses increased," he said. "Whenever cylinders were unavailable, I had to buy them at higher rates in the black market. Now even regular supply is too expensive, and if this continues, we may have to shut down," he added.
In Laxmi Nagar, another vendor said they are struggling to keep the business running. "Sometimes we even used domestic cylinders from home when supply ran out because we had to keep the stall running," he said, adding that rising costs leave little choice but to increase prices or bear losses.
On April 1, the rates of commercial LPG cylinders were hiked by Rs 195.50 per cylinder, followed by a Rs 114.5 hike on March 1, taking the total increase over the past three months to Rs 1,303. With the latest revision, a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 3,371.5 in Delhi, up from Rs 2,078.5 earlier.
The prices of domestic LPG cylinders used for household cooking have remained unchanged. They were last increased by Rs 60 per 14.2 kg cylinder on March 7 and currently cost Rs 913 in Delhi.
