Hindu, Christian religious heads vow to work together

Kochi, Sep 29 (UNI) In a joint high-level meeting of the spiritual heads of Hindu and Christian communities it was decided that ''both religions will work together'' and condemned any form of attacks on religion.

Addressing a joint press conference by Swami Chithananthapuri, Head of Advaitha Ashram, and Major Archbishop Basaileos Clemus here after a four-hour meeting said '' the unity and understanding among various religions were important for the unity and development of the nation.'' '' The religious faith was important for each and every person and it was wrong to forcefully change one's religious dictum,'' they reiterated.

Archbishop Clemus said religious conversions through enticement and force were worng but if a person wants to pursue a religious faith after studying that religion, it was acceptable.

The inter-religious talks were organised by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to safeguard the religious harmony prevailing in Kerala in the wake of recent attack against churches in Orissa, Karnataka and few incidents in the State.

Swami Chithananthapuri said ''the culrpits behind such attacks should be brought to book instead of getting into conclusion that people belonging to particular religion were behind the attacks.'' They said the talks were just a stepping stone towards more such intetractions between the religious heads of both communities.

The meeting was attended by 14 heads of the Hindu Organisations including Devanand Saraswathi, Vivekananda Saraswathi of Chinmaya Mission, Jnanaamrithanandapuri of Amritananthamayi Madom and Mr Kummanan Rajasekharan of Hindu Aikyavedia and nine Christian religious leaders including Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayethil, CBCI President and KCBC President Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil.

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