Religious leaders from various faiths assembled on Thursday for a prayer meeting to express support for and solidarity with a 71-year-old nun whose gang-rape at a convent school in West Bengal's Ranaghat sent ripples across the country.
Cutting across faith and religious beliefs, the leaders protested the horrific incident and echoed in unison the message that society needs to fight against gender injustice.
"The aim of this action of ours is to highlight the need of a peace-loving society and motivate the communities to join the path of prayer and non-violence," said Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhary, chairperson of the National Institute for Gender Justice, the body that organised the prayer meeting.
The nun was gang-raped at a convent school in Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district in the early hours of March 14.
Extending the message of love and humanity, the religious representatives recited mantras, hymns, slokas and prayers to pray for the nun as well as the students of the school.
"The message of every religion is to spread goodness and end evil. Religion gives the message to join and not break. If someone assaults a woman, mother or sister, then I'm a monster if I don't try to stop it," said Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, General Secretary of All-India Imam Association.
"The constitution of our religion as well as that of our country speaks of delivering justice. Those monsters who have committed such crimes are our brothers; we should try and bring them back to the correct path but if we can't correct them, we will tell the PM to deliver justice," he added.
Speaking on different aspects of religion, various speakers underlined the need for concerted efforts to end gender injustice and acts like rape and trafficking of women.
"Every religion seeks to search the meaning of humanity and the highest stage of humanity is to fight against injustice to others. We may be from various religions but there is one religion that applies to all and that is the religion of truth.
"If we believe in the religion of truth, if we strengthen it and remove ignorance, such acts can disappear. If a person prays for everyone's well being, such acts can disappear," said Sardar Harpal Singh, representative of the Sikh community.
A sister from St Anthony's School said, "If at all whom we call the culprits knew what they were doing, they wouldn't have done it. I ask to Lord to forgive them and have respect for one another and especially for the women of our land."
The body has demanded Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore as compensation for the nun and the school, respectively, along with the immediate arrest of the culprit. A signature campaign for the cause was also carried out.
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