Oneness biggest strength of Indian culture: Nitin Gadkari at inter-religious conference

Nagpur, October 25

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Oneness is the biggest strength of Indian culture and has enabled us to become a ‘vishwa guru’ (world teacher), according to Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

Speaking on ‘Global Challenges to Communal Harmony and the Role of India’ at the National Inter-religious Conference organised by the Lokmat media group on Sunday to celebrate the golden jubilee year of its Nagpur edition, the senior BJP leader said Indian culture is truly secular.

Respecting all religions, communities and ideologies is the uniqueness of Indian culture, and not associated with any ‘dharma’, Gadkari said.

“Oneness is the biggest strength of Indian culture and this is what makes us capable of becoming a vishwa guru, which was predicted earlier by Swami Vivekananda,” he said.

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said the demand of human life was diversity but there was hatred against diversity due to our lack of understanding as well as stress.

There was a need to walk together and respect one another as all communities are important, he said.

In a video message, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said ‘dharma’ unites but it was being used as an instrument to divide due to lack of mutual interaction.

“India believes the world is full of diversity. There may be differences in appearance and name, but from inside, we all are one,” Bhagwat said.

Speaking at the event, yoga guru Ramdev stressed on values of unity, equality, freedom and universal brotherhood. PTI