SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is in Indonesia to attend the first Indonesia-India Interfaith Dialogue.
The dialogue, being held in Java, “has the potential to emerge as an effective forum to nurture peace and harmony not only in the two countries but also in the region and in the world”, said Sangma. It aims to promote pluralism and eradicate radicalism.
The delegation is being led by Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar.
Indonesia is currently recuperating from the devastating impact of a recent earthquake that killed over a thousand people. Faith in Almighty is the flicker amid despair and helplessness of the homeless.
Sangma said all religions are based on peace for mankind and “it is a crime against God to use religion as a platform to incite hate, conflict, violence, war or terrorism”.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern at the global trend towards insularity and felt that this could lead to greater social tensions and strife in the world.
The three-day programme comprises a forum discussion, visit to places of worship and dialogues between Hindu, Islamic, Christian and Buddhist religious leaders of both India and Indonesia.
The members held discussion on the theme — “Sharing of Best Practices, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward,” at Yogyakarta, a city in Java Island.
