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
