Motorcycle rally for peace in north-west India

In an effort to promote peace in north-west India, the Church of North India (CNI) is organising a motorcycle rally between Amritsar and Leh covering more than 2000 kms.

CNI's Diocese of Amritsar has proposed the rally with the theme "Unite for Peace" to build mutual confidence and trust by bridging the widening gap between faith communities.

About 15 motorcycles and 25 persons will cover the whole length of the rally through Jammu,
Srinagar and Leh.

"The Diocese of Amritsar has been engaged in various interfaith peace processes for quite a long time," said Bishop PK Samantaroy.

"The North-West India covering the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir has rich cultural and religious diversity. People of this rich bio region have a long history of peaceful coexistence," observed Bishop Samantaroy, who heads the Diocese of Amritsar.

However, he said the "growing trend of violence and religious intolerance across the world" had
adversely affected peace in the region.

"It is a matter of concern that people of different faith communities are getting suspicious of each other and are not hesitating to attack on the basis of mere speculations," he lamented.

Bishop Samantaroy recalled how a Christian school was burnt down by miscreants in Kashmir last year following rumours of burning of a Quran in the US.

The Tyndale Biscoe School, belonging to Church of North India, was completely destroyed by the fire that was set by an angry mob. The school had been providing education to some 550 children, mostly Muslim.