the goan I network
MARGAO
Spiritual leaders representing various faiths on Thursday expressed their deep worry and concern at the way forces of hate and division are striving to polarise the Indian polity, while giving a call to all men and women of goodwill to stand up for social harmony, asserting that the country cannot progress simply with slogans and promises.
A statement issued at the conclusion of Collective Action for Dialogue and Social Harmony organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in collaboration with the Agnel region of the Society of Pilar and Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad expressed its deep distress at the communal tensions that they have seen in recent days in West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan and other states.
The statement signed by the CBCI Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, President of Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad Sushil Goswamy Maharaj, Chief Iman of India and President of Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chairman of Bangla Sabhi Gurudwara Paramjit Singh Chandok, International Mahavir Jain Mission president Vivek Muni and founder of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre Bikku Sanghasena strongly condemned those who are seeking to inject the poison of hatred in the society.
“We reiterate every Indian has his dignity and respect and the right to decide what one eats, to marry the person of one’s choice, to choose the education one selects and the freedom to practice whatever faith one wishes to profess. We take strong exception to anyone taking control of these individual decisions be it on the part of the state or by so called cultural organisations. No one is to be categorised as anti-national or non-patriotic based on his religion, region or belongingness to a community,” the statement added.
Condemning all violence, lynchings and killings and requesting the authorities to take strong and speedy action against those involved in anti-social acts, the spiritual leaders expressed their concern about attacks on educational institutions and places of worship, while denouncing in unequivocal terms the attacks this week on three Catholic Churches in Rourkela, Odisha at a time when the peaceful Christian community was celebrating their feast of joy, Easter.
“We vehemently denounce mobs that go around taking law and order into their hands and appeal that the Constitutional norms and articles be respected and implemented in letter and spirit. Dalits be given their rightful place in society. We emphasise that the rights of the tribals, the marginalised, the workers and the poor be upheld and protected,” they said.
The statement said a nation can progress only when its people live with each other as brothers and sisters, where egoism gives place to selflessness, hate gives way to love, peace replaces violence.
Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao said India has been a country with diverse culture, language, religions over the years, where people co-existed and lived in peace and harmony, while expressing his concern over the violence, riots, attempts at polarising the society taking place in the society.
In his address, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas exuded confidence that the initiative that has been started from Goa will culminate in a series of meetings all over the country to create a positive energy to overcome hatred.
Iman Umer Ahmed Ilyasi stressed on the need to join hands to spread peace, love and brotherhood amongst the people, while Sushil Goswamy Maharaj said those who issue statements that Muslims should go to Pakistan are insulting the entire community, demanding to know why should Muslims go to Pakistan.
