State terrorism no answer to organised terrorism: Venkataraman
NEW DELHI, Nov 10 (UNI) Former president R Venkataram today said organised terrorism had become a global menace, but the state terrorism was no answer to it.
Inaugurating a Dharm Sammelan organised by Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya here, Mr Venkataraman lamented that religious and ethnic conflicts took a heavy toll of human lives.
Instead of preaching peace and harmony, some religious fundamentalists fan the fire of hatred and bitterness and lead their followers to the path of senseless violence.
He said the answer to the chaotic conditions in the world should be found in moral and spiritual reformation and not through violence.
Problems of ethnic conflict, terrorism and disharmony among people and nations of the world could not be solved through disarmament conferences, conventions and treaties but only through a change of heart, he said.
The former president said the voluntary observance of moral and physical laws by a majority of people holds the society together and fear of administrative punishment plays a crucial role in this regard.
However, inner voice of conscience holds a person back from misdeeds and it could be developed by faith in divinity and in the supreme being.
"Religions, which have tamed the bestial man into a civilised being can alone bring about a psychological and spiritual transformation of man," he said.
Every religion preaches morality, righteousness, kindness, love, selflessness and these are the requisites of a peaceful, orderly and harmonious society, he said and added that if each one practices them truthfully, faithfully and scrupulously there would be no disharmony in life.
"However, the fact is that no one follows religion honestly but uses it for creating discord," he observed.
He called upon the religious leaders, gathered for the conference, to agree that equal respect should be given to all religions and there should be no interference in each, following his respective religious tradition.
"Peaceful co-existence of all faiths will bring about a new millennium of harmony and peace within nations and in the entire globe," he averred.
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