Hindu, Christian religious leaders come forward to end communal violence

Kochi, Sept 30 (ANI): Religious leaders of the Hindu and Christian communities met here last evening in an effort to diffuse tension following attacks on churches and Christian prayer halls in the state.

The peace talks were held here where mobs had vandalized a 1,000-year-old cathedral and a 450-year-old church on September 21.

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A Hindu seer said they were determined to fight Christian missionaries accusing them of what they call ' forcibly converting' Hindus to Christianity.

"One religion should not hurt another religion. All must live peacefully with their own faith and belief. No one should take any kind of advantage of poverty for conversions at the same time. Forceful conversions in the name of any religion are not right. If anyone by his or her wish wants to convert, that can be allowed. All this was discussed in the meet," said Swami Chitananda Puri.

But a Christian priest said that lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape discrimination of the caste-system.

"To safeguard one's own religion and to accept new ones are not opposed here, but forceful conversions should definitely be reconsidered. We welcome these kind of thoughts. That means religion is not meant for any conversion either using offers, temptation or forcefully, it has to be taken as a symbol of conversion in one's mind," said Baselios Mar Clemis, archbishop of Malankara Church in Kerala.

The recent spate of violence in a string of attacks on Christians in three states has left at least 20 people dead and dozens of religious places, mostly churches and Christian prayer halls, damaged.

Meanwhile, the Central Government in New Delhi has asked the State Governments of Orissa and Karnataka to do more to stop religious violence. (ANI)