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| Kathmandu, Sunday February 02, 2003 Magh 19, 2059. |
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Religious conference opens in
capital
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Feb. 1 : Deputy Prime Minister Badri
Prasad Mandal declared open the two-day religious conference organised by the Nepali
Religious Parliament ( a religious organisation) today, where 500 participants from over
50 religious and social service organisations attended the mega-conference, aimed at
spreading peace through religion.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Prime
Minister said that the essence of religion can only be achieved if we translate it into
action. Highlighting the importance of religion to rid the world of violence and conflict,
he said that humanity has lost moral values in pursuit of material gains and comforts.
He further added that all the social evils,
including poverty could be alleviated, "If we sincerely perform our duties with a
healthy state of mind".
Speaking on the occasion, Indian Ambassador to
Nepal, Shyam Saran underlined the need for preserving the heritage of the Hindu religion
which was bequeathed to humanity by ancient scholars, "It would be a part of our
contribution to Hindu religion if we take to the path shown by it".
Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare,
Gore Bahadur Khapangi also spoke on the occasion.
Jayaprakash, the spokesperson of the Nepali
Religious Parliament noted that Nepalese politics today is in a bad situation because of
the lack of religious contemplation.
Many speakers raised concern over the threat to
Hinduism because of the acts of conversion to Christianity of Nepalese people and stressed
the need for addressing the problems of people at the grass-root level.
Other issues like equal status for all
religions, setting up of a Hindu University were also raised during the three sessions of
the conference.
Bimal Singh Surna, one of the organisers,
commenting on the peace initiatives and the proposed peace talks between the government
and the Maoists, remarked that peace initiatives will be further reinforced once the talks
take place.
The second day of the conference is to be
inaugurated by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand.
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