PM to address S Asian inter-faith conclave

A unique inter-faith conclave has been organised in New Delhi with the participation of religious and civil society leaders to be inaugurated by Manmohan Singh.

A unique inter-faith conclave has been organised in New Delhi on Saturday with the participation of religious and civil society leaders drawn not just from India, but also Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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The role of religion and spirituality in promoting universal human values is the theme of prime minister's talk before the religious the leaders representing the Bahai Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism, the organisers said.

The Inter-Faith Harmony Foundation of India, a forum floated by Indian Muslims, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and The Temple of Understanding (India), are jointly organising the Conclave at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in New Delhi.

The conclave will also be addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, ICCR president Karan Singh and Former prime minister IK Gujral.

The other participants include Pakistan Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Aseef Ali Daulia, Pakistan's Movement of Justice President Imran Khan, Sri Lanka's National Peace Council Executive Director Jehan Perera and Bangladesh's Peace and Conflict Studies Director SM Ibrahim.

The event will conclude with an address by South Asia Inter-Faith Harmony Conclave convenor and Inter-Faith Harmony Foundation of India, Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed, and soul-searching Sufi music.