The Hindu : Marching for peace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

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Marching for peace

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MARCH 30. To spread the message of tolerance and provide a healing touch to those affected by the communal violence in Gujarat, nearly 70 religious leaders, noted Gandhians and social activists will embark on a four-day multi religious "Pilgrimage of Compassion'' to cover the riot-torn areas of Gujarat on April 1.

The group includes several Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders including the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth, Swami Madhavashram; the Arya Samaj leader and social activist, Swami Agnivesh; Swami Indravesh; Maulana Rafique Qasmi (Jamaat-e-Islami); Maulana Mehmood Madani (Jamaat Ulama-i-Hind); Amarendra Muni; Valson Thampu (Church of North India); Sardar Kulmohan Singh (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Delhi) and noted Gandhian, Nirmala Deshpande.

Reiterating that in this hour of national crisis the main objective behind the peace mission was to "voice the call of compassion in the communally-charged scenario that threatens to rob us of our humanity'', Swami Agnivesh said that the peace delegation would leave for Godhra by the Golden Temple Express on April 1 to reach there in the evening. ''En route we will be joined by several socio-religious and cultural activists who are supporting our cause.''

"The solution to Gujarat is not merely political. It is spiritual. Gujarat is burning today because fires of hate have been lit deliberately by those who hope to prosper through the politics of hate and hurt. As a result, people are losing touch with compassion, one of the highest spiritual values,'' Swami Agnivesh said.

"The itinerary includes visits to Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Modasa, Himmatnagar and riot-torn towns where we will be visiting relief camps and meeting people who have been affected by violence,'' said Swami Agnivesh. They have no plans to meet political leaders. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of meeting the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

Asserting that they had no intention to create law and order problem through their visit, Valson Thampu, said they would also be preparing a report giving their assessment about the present scenario in Gujarat and recommending measures needed to restore confidence in people.

Denouncing discrimination in compensation package, the religious leaders demanded that the compensation package for all violence hit people should by the same. Similarly, the action taken against those involved in the Godhra incident and those behind communal violence should also be the same, they added. They also lambasted the Narendra Modi Government and the Sangh Parivar for their irresponsible statements which were making things worse in the country.

Pointing towards the mass support that their proposed march was getting, Swami Agnivesh informed that the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had written a letter urging them and all others wielding religious authority ''to unite people in reinforcing foundational values of compassion, tolerance, secularism and democracy''.

Ms. Gandhi has said that "an all out effort needs to be made to restore normalcy in Gujarat to make the displaced and traumatised people feel secure and valued. The larger task is to substitute the politics of cruelty with the politics of compassion. This is a task in which all those who are spiritually sensitive have a role to play.''

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