D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, said on Saturday that all people should have love, devotion and respect for their religion. But they should respect other religions also, he added.
He was speaking after releasing the Kannada translation of the Koran, “Kannadadali Koran Anuvada” by the editor-in-chief of “Varthabharathi”, Adbussalam Puthige, at a function organised by the Forum for Humanity, here.
Dr. Heggade said the basic philosophy of all religions was the same. But some people forgot this and were ready to give their lives for the sake of their religion. This sort of over-enthusiasm created disharmony.
Religion should create peace and not disharmony. Those who read the Koran could never create any disharmony. The Koran should be translated into all languages and everybody should read and understand it, Dr. Heggade said.
Poet K.S. Nisar Ahmed said lack of proper understanding of religion was responsible for suspicion and enmity. “Those who understood Islam, could understand other religions also,” Mr. Ahmed said.
Kota Srinivas Poojary, Minister for Ports and Muzrai, K. Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, and Rev. Fr. Fredrick Mascarenhas, priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, were present.
