Religious leaders to be consulted on national issues: Advani

New Delhi, April 11 (PTI) The prime ministerial
candidate of India's main opposition BJP, L K Advani has
promised to set up a "consultative mechanism" involving
religious leaders if voted to power to discuss "issues facing
the nation."

"It will be our endeavour to seek on a regular basis
the guidance of spiritual leaders of all denominations on
major challenges and issues facing the nation. For this, we
shall evolve a suitable consultative mechanism," Advani said
in a letter to religious leaders Saturday.

The letter said to be send to more than 1000 spiritual
leaders across the country, says it had been the lifelong
ambition of Advani that "politics, governance and other
national affairs should be guided by lofty ideals as enshrined
in the concept of Ram Rajya (ideal state), popularised by
Mahatma Gandhi."

"At the present crucial juncture in our nation's life,
when people are looking for a decisive change, I seek your
blessings, guidance and support with 'Sashtang Namaskar'
(utmost reverance)," says the letter.

When contacted Advani's office said the copies of the
letter have been send to Baba Ramdev, Shri Shri Ravi Shanker,
Maulana Waihuddin and several archbishops of different
churches.

"As Dharam Guru, your good self has always worked for
peace, harmony,unity, well-being and brotherhood without
boundaries in society. These are the values that I believe
in," Advani said in the letter.

"I am writing this to seek your blessings as the
Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA gear up for elections to
the 15th Lok Sabha...I am sure that you will give the right
guidance in the present circumstances," the letter says.

The senior BJP leader, who was the face of the Ayodhya
movement in the 90s, enlisted a 12-point "specific assurances
relevant to religious establishments" in the letter.

Other than evolving a "consultative mechanism" with
religious leaders, the assurances include a national mission
for beautification and development of all major pilgrimage
centres of all faith-communities and ending the "government
neglect" of the multi-faith spiritual heritage of India.

"Cleaning up of the Ganga and other rivers will be a
matter of high priority, Ram Sethu will be protected,
protection of cow and her progeny will be our solemn
commitment..spiritual tourism will be promoted in a big way,"
the letter says.

All social welfare and nation-building activities of
religious institutions will be duly supported and NDA, if
elected to power, will create a special cell to facilitate the
works of all religious institutions, he said in the letter.

"All foreign funds will be regulated as per government
norms to ensure that they are used solely for the purpose for
which they are received. Religious conversions using
fraudulent and unethical means will be outlawed," Advani
assured the religious leaders in the letter.

He further promised that controversies like the one
over allotment of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board in Jammu
and Kashmir last year will not be repeated and if elected the
government under him will take steps to promote India's
spiritual heritage worldwide.

The assurances reflect the demands raised by Vishwa
Hindu Parishad through its platform Dharm Raksha Manch on
several occasions. PTI JOY
PMR
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