India Condemns Religious Violence

Speaking at the United Nations on June 14, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said that India was ‘deeply concerned’ about the growing number of attacks on religious places, including churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues.

Kamboj said that India ‘strongly condemns’ acts of discrimination or violence motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, and Islamophobia. She also expressed concern about the rise of religious intolerance and discrimination.

Kamboj called for inter-religious dialogue to be ‘inclusive and encompass all religions and faiths.’ She quoted Swami Vivekananda, who said, ‘We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true.’

Kamboj said that India's approach to religion is one of non-exclusion. She quoted the Constitution of India, which states that ‘all religions are equal before the law.’

Kamboj's remarks come at a time when there is a growing global concern about the rise of religious intolerance and violence. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile attacks on religious minorities, including the Christchurch mosque shootings, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and the Charleston church shooting.

The UN Security Council has also expressed concern about the rise of religious intolerance and violence. In a statement issued in March, the Council said that ‘the world is witnessing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism, and intolerance.’

The Council called on all countries to take steps to combat religious intolerance and violence. It also called on social media companies to do more to prevent the spread of hate speech and radicalization online.

India's call for inter-religious dialogue is a welcome step. It is important for people of all faiths to come together and build bridges of understanding. Only through dialogue and cooperation can we hope to overcome the challenges of religious intolerance and violence.

(Source: Multiple media reports)