Tuesday, September 25, 2012


New Delhi
   25 Sept 2012




Swami Agnivesh giving a copy of the Supreme Court of India’s landmark judgment on the plight of Adivasis of Chhattisgarh to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Navi Pillay during the 21st  session of Human Rights Council in Palais des Nation – Geneva, Switzerland.

President of the World Council of Arya Samaj and former Chairperson of the United Nations Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Swami Agnivesh had a very fruitful meeting with Mrs. Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The meeting took place in Palais des Nation in Geneva during the 21st Session of the UN Human Right Council on 14 Sept 2012.
Swami Agnivesh put forth the serious violation of Human Rights of India’s aboriginal or indigenous people called Adivasis, particularly in the mineral rich areas of Chhattisgarh at the hands of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). He gave her a copy of the landmark Judgment by the Supreme Court of India (Prof. Nandini Sunder and others Vs. Union of India) date 5th July, 2011 by Justices Sudarshan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar. Swami Agnivesh highlighted the cultural genocide of Adivasis at the hands of the State sponsored vigilante group called Salwa Judum in its various incarnations. He underlined the uprooting of nearly 85,000 tribals from close to 900 villages of Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur districts of Bastar Region; the burning down of three villages viz Thimmapuram, Tadmetla, Morpalli; and the condition of nearly 1,700 innocent Adivasis languishing in Jails of Jagadalpur on flimsy charges for last many years. He also noted the incidents of rape and murder of Adivasis between 11-16 March 2011, and the murderous assault on Swami Agnivesh and his team carrying relief material to affected Adivasis on 26 March, 2011.  He also gave a graphic picture of atrocities heaped on tribals on the night of 28th June, 2012 in which 19 of them were killed in cold blood including seven innocent school-going children.
Swami Agnivesh requested the UN High Commissioner to intervene in this matter with the Government of India.  SwamiAgnivesh told the High Commissioner for Human Rights that he had already met the President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 23 Aug and given him a memorandum seeking justice for the Adivasis.
            The UN High Commissioner thanked Swami Agnesh for his briefing and expressed serious concern about reports of this kind.  She highlighted the work of her office for the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous and tribal populations in other mineral rich areas of Africa and Latin America. She recalled for instance a recent visit she had made to Guatemala where she met indigenous communities and highlighted their concerns. Swami Agnivesh invited the High Commissioner to visit India and meet Adivasi victims and their families, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed her interest in visiting India again.
The HC and Swami Agnivesh also discussed other issues of concern in India. She underlined the potential of interfaith initiatives to break down longstanding prejudices and overcome social and cultural in justices.
Swami Agnivesh was accompanied at the meeting by Dr. Rama Mani, Co-Convener of Agents of Transformation and Councilor of the World Future Council.

        
Swami Agnivesh
President – World Council of Arya Samaj
Chairperson – Bandhua Mukti Morcha 

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Swami Agnivesh Presents RIG VEDA, Applied Spirituality and Sarva Dharma Sansad Brochure to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at Casablanca , Morocco.

The Founder Convenor of Sarva Dharma Sansad (Parliament of All Religions)
Swami Agnivesh had an excellent historic meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia who is also the custodian of the two Holy Mosques at his majestic palace in Casablanca, Morocco. The formal meeting  of the Board of Directors  for King Abdullah International Interreligious and Intercultural Centre , KAICIID  took place with all Board Members in attendance at Hotel Le Meridien of Casablanca on 7th & 8th of Sept 2012. The meeting took several important decisions with regard to the inauguration of the KAICIID Centre in Vienna on 26-27 Nov 2012, We finalized the list of invitees and the Members of Advisory Forum. We deliberated on the need for moral spiritual values in education of our school children and a world conference on that issue early next year.
While I was in Morocco my idea about organising a Global Religious – Cultural Leaders Conference in New Delhi, in 2013, was mentioned to HM King Abdullah. I have also raised this with my fellow Board Members and I look forward to presenting my thoughts in more detail so that a considered decision may be forthcoming.

King Abdullah welcomed all our Board members in his palace over a sumptuous dinner.( Since  I am a strict vegetarian I had to make do with a few pieces of bread and dates!)  Subsequently in our meeting with His Majesty we discussed the great future of this historic initiative which together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been joined by the State of Spain and the State of Austria. In my brief speech when I began with Bismilahir Rehmanir Raheem – I made it clear that Allah is co-terminous with Eeshwar , Parmatma , God and  Waheguru.
In an emotional appeal to the King and the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques I told him about our Sarva Dharma Sansad and the various social issues of common interest. I specially urged him to take up the Anti – Liquor campaign at the Global level as the Holy Quran dubs alcohol as Ummul Khabaaish  - the root of all evils.
I took this opportunity to present him a copy of Rig Veda (with English Translation), my own book Applied Spirituality and brochure on Sarva Dharma Sansad. On my invitation to inaugurate the Global Religious Conference in Delhi next year his response was a very encouraging – Insha Allah! 
Swami Agnivesh
Founder Convenor -Sarva Dharma Sansad (Parliament of All Religions)
Board of Director -  (KAICIID  )
                                                                     


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                                                                                                      New Delhi
07th Sept 2012

Proposal for International Conference        

1,2,3rd Oct. 2013
With the mission to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and to draft a multi pronged strategy to eradicate social ills like racism, casteism , oppression, violence and terrorism , religious bigotry and blind faithism and environmental and value degradation – that plague our society . I propose a 3 day ‘Mega Mela’ which will be attended by eminent luminaries from across the globe.
            This mega event will be held in the Capital of India and will be inaugurated simultaneously by His Excellency King Saud Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and His Excellency President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee . The event will be held in collaboration with Sarva Dharma Sansad ( Parliament of All Religions ) which since its inception in 2007 has played an extremely proactive role in bringing together a galaxy of Socio – Spiritual activists on a common minimum programme in order to heal and transform the causes of injustice, disharmony, violence , oppression rooted in ignorance , fear and greed so as to co- create inclusive and just peace grounded in the core values of truth , love , compassion and justice. The mega event would included 1500 delegates from across the globe and from all the major fields who would proactively participate in the 3 day churning process of ideas and vision and thought sharing. The programme would consist of 2 plenary sessions – The first being the inauguration and the latter the concluding session. The rest of the event would divided into a serious of simultaneous religious programmes, cultural events round table conferences, thread baring debates and discussion and also film show. There sub events will be divided in such a way that there is Interreligious, Inter Cultural and open exchanges at the same time and also discussion on engagement strategies.
The plan is to organize atleast 10-12 such events everyday which would successfully cover all the areas.
The venue which we have in mind is ‘Vigyan Bhawan’ in New Delhi which is centrally located, easily accessible and completely safe. It consists of a plenary hall with a capacity of 2000 (approx) and 6 other conference rooms.

Thanking You
Swami Agnivesh
Founder Convenor – Sarva Dharma Sansad (Parliament of All Religions)  
 Board of Director - KAICIID   

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