Lok Sabha Question No. 2711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Social Harmony among Religious Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Mala Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2711

ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## SOCIAL HARMONY AMONG RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

2711. SMT. MALA ROY:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  envisions  the  role  of  interfaith  initiatives  and  education  in promoting  social harmony  and  understanding  among  the  different minority religious communities; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b):  To promote social harmony and understanding among the different minority religious communities, regular holding of interfaith meetings (Sarv Dharm Samvad) with the representatives of minority communities and celebrations of festivals of all religions are done by the National Commission for Minorities, a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The list of such meetings and celebrations since 2021 onwards is annexed.

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## Annexure  to  the  reply  of  Lok  Sabha  unstarred  Question  No.  2711  for  answer  on 11.12.2024 regarding 'Social Harmony Among Religious Minorities'

## 1. Details of the celebrations  of festivals of all religions held  in the National Commission for Minorities since 2021:

|   S.No. | Subject                                                     | Date       |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
|       1 | Guru Nanak Jayanti celebration                              | 18.11.2021 |
|       2 | Budh Purnima Celebration with Buddhist Community Members    | 13.05.2022 |
|       3 | Christmas Celebration                                       | 23.12.2022 |
|       4 | Mahavir Jayanti celebration                                 | 03.04.2023 |
|       5 | Iftar party                                                 | 18.04.2023 |
|       6 | RakshaBandhan                                               | 30.08.2023 |
|       7 | Diwali Celebration                                          | 10.11.2023 |
|       8 | Guru Nanak Jayanti                                          | 27.11.2023 |
|       9 | Christmas Celebration                                       | 22.12.2023 |
|      10 | Celebration of International Women's Day                    | 08.03.2024 |
|      11 | Celebration of Krishna Janmashtami                          | 27.08.2024 |
|      12 | Celebration of Milad-un-Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammed) | 12.09.2024 |
|      13 | Diwali Celebration                                          | 30.10.2024 |
|      14 | Guru Nanak Jayanti celebration                              | 15.11.2024 |

## 2. Details of the significant meetings held in the National  Commission  for Minorities since 2021:

|   S.No. | Subject                                                                       | Date       |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
|       1 | Interfaith Meeting                                                            | 12.11.2021 |
|       2 | Interfaith Meeting                                                            | 15.11.2021 |
|       3 | Meeting with Jain Community Members                                           | 03.12.2021 |
|       4 | Celebration of Minority Rights Day                                            | 18.12.2021 |
|       5 | Interfaith Meeting                                                            | 03.06.2022 |
|       6 | Meeting with Sikh and Christian Community Members regarding issues in Punjab. | 16.06.2022 |
|       7 | Meeting with Bank officials to discuss Economic Development of Minorities.    | 01.07.2022 |

|   8. | Meeting with Sikh Community Members                                                                                            | 22.07.2022   |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
|    9 | Buddhist Personal Law meeting                                                                                                  | 22.11.2022   |
|   10 | Meeting with Buddhist Community representatives for Development of Sowa Rigpa (Traditional medicine).                          | 27.11.2022   |
|   11 | Meeting with Sikh community on Veer Bal Diwas celebration                                                                      | 06.12.2022   |
|   12 | Meeting on safety headgear for Sikh members of Indian armed forces                                                             | 03.02.2023   |
|   13 | Meeting with Educationists                                                                                                     | 03.03.2023   |
|   14 | Meeting to discuss the incidents in Manipur                                                                                    | 11.5.2023    |
|   15 | Meeting to discuss intercommunity brotherhood.                                                                                 | 27.6.2023    |
|   16 | Meeting to discuss the issue of Minority certificate                                                                           | 24.7.2023    |
|   17 | Meeting to discuss the issues of Christian community                                                                           | 25.9.2023    |
|   18 | An interfaith meeting in NCM                                                                                                   | 20.10.2023   |
|   19 | Seminar on Nation Building with Students in Chandigarh                                                                         | 07.11.2023   |
|   20 | NCM felicitated Rat Miners, the rescue heroes from Minority community engaged in the Silkyara Tunnel Operation in Uttarakhand. | 08.12.2023   |
|   21 | Celebration of Minority Day inNCM                                                                                              | 18.12.2023   |
|   22 | Meeting of Sikligars                                                                                                           | 18.12.2023   |
|   23 | Meeting with Chief Secretaries on 1984 Sikh Riots.                                                                             | 19.12.2023   |
|   24 | Interfaith meeting inNCM                                                                                                       | 09.01.2024   |
|   25 | Interfaith meeting inNCM                                                                                                       | 18.01.2024   |
|   26 | Meeting with Christian Community inNCM                                                                                         | 30.01.2024   |
|   27 | Meeting with Muslim Community inNCM                                                                                            | 14.02.2024   |
|   28 | Meeting with prominent representatives of Sikh Community inNCM                                                                 | 23.02.2024   |
|   29 | Meeting on 1984 Sikh riots                                                                                                     | 23.02.2024   |
|   30 | Felicitation ceremony of living legends of 1975                                                                                | 15.03.2024   |

|    | Hockey World Cup                                                           |            |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| 31 | Sarv Dharm Samvad Meeting                                                  | 20.06.2024 |
| 32 | Meeting with Sikh Leaders of Haryana                                       | 26.06.2024 |
| 33 | Meeting with Sikh Women                                                    | 02.07.2024 |
| 34 | Meeting with Muslim Leaders (Mangol Puri) Delhi                            | 08.07.2024 |
| 35 | Meeting with Buddhists                                                     | 16.07.2024 |
| 36 | Meeting with Shia and Sunni Muslim on Muharram                             | 16.07.2024 |
| 37 | Meeting with Sikh women                                                    | 06.08.2024 |
| 38 | Meeting on Sikh Issues                                                     | 09.09.2024 |
| 39 | The Sarv Dharam Samvad meeting                                             | 09.09.2024 |
| 40 | Meeting with eminent Jain personalities                                    | 27.09.2024 |
| 41 | Meeting with Sikh Retired persons                                          | 30.09.2024 |
| 42 | Meeting with DPCC Minority Delegation                                      | 07.10.2024 |
| 43 | Meeting with eminent Sikhs                                                 | 09.10.2024 |
| 44 | Interfaith dialogue with Baha-i and the minority community representatives | 05.11.2024 |
| 45 | Meeting with families of victims of 1984 anti - Sikhs riots                | 08.11.2024 |
| 46 | Meeting with Sikh taxi union representatives                               | 11.11.2024 |