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Spiritual meet begins with call for world peace: PTI

Amid blowing of conches, beating of drums and incantations, about 1500 religious and spiritual leaders from around the world opened a four-day meet At the United Nations to discuss ways to usher in global peace, eradicate poverty and protect the environment.

The UN General Assembly hall, which had till now witnessed only acrimonious political debates and manoeuvring by diplomats, on Monday wore a serene look as religious heads in saffron and white robes and black rabbinical coats and head-gears, took turns praying for world peace.

India was represented by 103 religious and spiritual leaders from different faiths who are accompanied by 200 disciples.

Summit secretary general Bawa Jain said religious leaders enjoyed immense influence the world over, which could be utilised to end ethnic animosities and religious tension.

As the leaders, in many languages, spoke of world peace, outside the UN headquarters demonstrators protested against the organisers' decision to keep exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama out of the meet due to Chinese pressure.

"It speaks poorly of organisers that they bowed to the Chinese dictates," said a demonstrator.

The Dalai Lama was invited to deliver the keynote address at the closing session to be held outside the UN, but he declined.

Billed as the Millennium World Peace Summit, the meet is sponsored by an independent interfaith group and funded mainly by the UN Foundation and Better World Fund established by vice chairman of Time Warner Inc Ted Turner.

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