Sri Lankan Hindus Urge PM Modi To Resume Ferry Services For Pilgrims

Newstrack
Published on: 9 Feb 2020 3:05 PM GMT
Sri Lankan Hindus Urge PM Modi To Resume Ferry Services For Pilgrims
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Sri Lankan Hindus Urge PM Modi To Resume Ferry Services For Pilgrims

New Delhi: UT Economic Advisor DR. NK Sinha has send a proposal to the Narendra Modi government, urging to provide shipping services between northern Sri Lankan port of Kankeyanthurai and the nearest Indian port Karaikkal in the Union territory of Pondichery.

Dr. Sinha is in Delhi since January 13 as he believes that ferry services will begin before the Holi festivity so that Hindus in Sri Lanka may visit the religious temples in India.

The proposal read that both the governments have agreed to provide shipping services but the non-availability of a passenger ship with International Maritime Safety Standards in Sri Lanka is delaying the implementation.

Proposal read, "Poorest of the poor Hindus, undergoing post-war trauma, are becoming sitting ducks for the zealous missionaries of Abrahamic religions. Conversions are rampant. Demography of the Hindu dominated areas of Sri Lanka in the north, east and the hill country is fast changing to the disadvantage of the Hindus. In fact one of the terrorists killed during the recent Easter Sunday attack is a recently convert Hindu to Islam.

I appeal to your Honourable Sir, to help the Sri Lankan Hindus to retain their 5,000 years

long age-old faith thorough pilgrimages to temples in India. One of the major pilgrim-centre

for Sri Lankan Hindus in India is Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. Travel by air is unimaginable to

the economically weaker sections of the Hindus of Sri Lanka. India has maritime passenger ships operating on a regular basis connecting the mainland with Indian island territories in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Please arrange one of the many ships under your control to provide pilgrimage services

to the Sri Lankan Hindus during the month of December, when the sacred Chidambaram

Natarjar temple celebrates the 10 day long Aathirai festival."

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