By Asfar Faridy
New Delhi: A six-member Indian delegation comprising politician and scholars will leave for Tehran to participate in a two day conference on Indo-Iran relations.
M D Nalapat, professor of Geopolitics and UNESCO Peace Chair of Manipal University told this reporter that this will be the second joint conference by the Manipal university, India and Shahid Beheshti University being held on Indo-Iran relations.
The conference aims to encourage the level of religious tolerance, Prof. Nalapat added.
He said the issues like economic development, ways to enhance Indo-Iran cooperation, law and human rights and about the political steps for establishing peace in Central Asia and Afghanistan will also be discussed in the conference.
Prof. Nalapat said the first such conference was held in Manglore in Karnataka last year and while the second conference is going to be held in Tehran, the third will be held in Goa next year.
Introducing himself as co-organizer of the conference, he said that a five-member delegation comprising Dr. Jagdish Shatiga head of the economic affairs committee of BJP, Ranjit Thomas young Congress party leader, well known expert of Muslims issues and lecturer at Jamia Millia Dr. Yoginder Sikand, Ms. Nigar Abdullah associate editor of monthly magazine Islamic Voice and well known educationist Dr. Nirja Sehgal, is accompanying him to Tehran.
The Indian scholar said that India and Iran should look towards the East.
Advocate of a close relationship between India and Iran, Prof. Nalapat said that too much investment in the West will not yield anything as western countries will never support the progress and development of India or Iran.