Church-organized interfaith meet stresses unity

The Muslim leader urged everyone to stand united against the small minority in their communities, who instigate hate and violence.

Religious leaders from different faith during a meet in New Delhi on Feb. 23.

By Bijay Kumar Minj
New Delhi:  Some 50 leaders from Christian, Hindu, Islam, Sikhism, and Judaism joined in a program in New Delhi to condemn the recent terror attack on Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Feb. 23 program was organized by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in collaboration with Federation of Catholic Associations of Archdiocese of Delhi and Alliance Defending Freedom-India (ADF), a Christian rights' group.

“We don’t believe in terrorism as it is an act against humanity,” Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India told the inter faith program titled: Aman-Bhaichara Sammelan (Brotherhood and goodwill meet).

India, following its political independence in 1947, made “a conscious decision to be a multicultural, multi-religious, pluralistic nation and this unique identity and idea of India must be preserved” Bishop Mascarenhas said.

India’s unity in diversity is the “fire that enlightens and inspires,” he said adding that what makes a nation “a superpower is not its firepower but rather the strength of its character, peace and harmony.”

A C Michael, a Christian leader and one of the organizers told ucanews.com that “the program was hurriedly organized because of the situation. We thought it is our responsibility to unite together during this difficult times our country is facing”.

At least 40 Indian soldiers were killed Feb. 13 when a suicide bomber exploded his car near a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. A Jaish-e-Mohammed member named Adil Ahmad Dar, a Kashmiri local, was identified as the attacker.

Pakistan has been widely rebuked for exporting terrorism to Indian soil but Islamabad has challenged India to provide proof of its involvement in the latest attacks.

The armed insurgency in Kashmir started in 1989. Indian attempts to suppress the conflict have resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths since then, but official records put the number at 47,000.

Hindu spiritual Guru Goswami Sushil Ji Maharaj in his keynote address said that “spiritual leaders play a great role in society and have power to influence the people, it is a very difficult time and we have to leave our difference to fight terror who has to love for humanity.

Maharaj who started Bhartiya Sarv Dharm Sansad (Parliament of all religion) in 2006 said “the whole world looks to India as role model of peace and harmony. Let’s keep our faith in constitution. India is country of diverse faith where we all respect each religion so gradually time will heal”.

Imam Umar Ahmed Illyasibegan while addressing the meet said that the violent mob is not human but satanic. He recalled the horrific 1984 riots and brutal murder of Graham Staines and his two children.

The Muslim leader urged everyone to stand united against the small minority in their communities, who instigate hate and violence.

Sikh leader Paramjeet Singh Chandok quoted the words of Guru Nanak and the Guru Grant Sahib on the message of Universal Brotherhood and serviced to all mankind. He urged all present that if only we stand together, this land will always be a land of peace.

They together resolved “to appeal to the people of India that let us together work towards promoting religious, cultural understanding, peace, harmony and cooperation in our country.”

Their resolution also wanted to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue to sort out the differences among ourselves and to eliminate intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.

END