Twocircles Staff Reporter
Ahmedabad: Maulana Luqman Tarapuri, National President, Global Imam Council and Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid Anand, Gujarat, will try highlighting the role that religious leaders can play in addressing issues like hygiene, sanitation and climate change when he addresses the World Religion Parliament Forum to be held at Salt Lake City, US.
Maulana Luqman Tarapuri
The event, which starts on Wednesday, October 14 and continues till Tuesday, October 20, will see a congregation of religious leaders from around the world discuss the environment and the role of religion in it. Maulana Tarapuri, who has been actively part of such initiatives in both India and abroad, told Twocircles.net, “Our message is a simple one: no matter what religion you follow, it is imperative that you have access to clean water and a clean environment.” He added that involving religious leaders in environmental issues would help magnify the reach of such programmes.
“Religious leaders can work much better than NGOs and government agencies as they have a strong presence among the people they serve. While NGOs may be better equipped in financial terms, we have better understanding of the situation. This is why even UNICEF and UN have acknowledged our role,” he further added.
Last year prominent leaders of major faiths in India came together to launch the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA India) in partnership with UNICEF India. The leaders including Maulana Tarapuri, resolved to take the message of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) to their congregations and followers and embrace the spirit of Swachh Bharat campaign.
Moreover, discussing environmental issues was a great way to bring people of different faiths together, since it affects us all equally, he pointed out. “Given that our country has been facing the issue of rising communalism, such discussions are important,” he said.
He, however, clarified that during the conference; he will stick to speaking about environment and climate change and not raise the issue of communalism. “It is a matter that troubles me and all the peace-loving people in India, so it is best to discuss them when I a back here; not when I am abroad,” he said.