RSS, BJP leaders to address world Hindu congress

BJP and RSS leaders will address an international conference beginning here Nov 21 that seeks to provide a global platform to Hindu society to formulate solutions to the "myriad challenges" it faces by it.

The World Hindu Congress 2014 (WHC) is being organised by the World Hindu Foundation and is expected to see participation of about 1,500 delegates from 40 countries.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama would address the inaugural session of the three-day conclave.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and union ministers Smriti Irani, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman are scheduled to address subsequent sessions.

The conference, to be addressed by educationists and scientists, will see 45 sessions.

WHC coordinator Liza Bhansali said the event has gained traction due to the BJP-led NDA being in power.

She said people were influenced by Prime Minster Narendra Modi taking pride in his heritage.

"Because we have a prime minister who has talked of his Hindu nationalist identity, people's mindset has changed a bit. People (of Hindu descent) are happy to acknowledge their Hindu heritage," Bhansali said.

The organisers said the WHC was taking place after discussion and preparation spread over 10 years.

The conference website lists the objectives of the conference.

"Now is the time to take the movement for Hindu solidarity to the next level. The main idea behind the World Hindu Congress is to provide a global platform for the Hindu society to deliberate and formulate solutions to the myriad challenges being faced by Hindus throughout the world and to devise workable and tangible solutions that can be implemented," it says.

The world's Hindu society is more than a billion in population, it adds.

The website also says time has arrived to "take movement for Hindu solidarity to the next level".

The organisers said the WHC intends to serve as a channel for Hindus across the globe to congregate at a common platform and deliberate on ways to strengthen the community.

They said the Congress will help organise the talent of Hindus that remains scattered across the globe and provide an opportunity for the people of the community to network with one another.

The need of the hour was to have a "pressure group" of Hindus just as that of the Jews in the US who stay well connected within their community.

They also said the conference will serve as a platform for the less affluent Hindus to connect with those who are in positions of global leadership. .

"We are a united society. But we are not an organised society. The purpose is to have an organisational structure and institutional framework so that Hindus across the globe can leverage each other," Bhansali added.

The conference will see discussions on disparate themes such as youth, economy, politics, education organisation, women, and media.