Jammu, An interfaith harmony conference scheduled to take place at the Press Club in Jammu, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was halted by local police authorities today. The conference, organized by the United Peace Alliance—a coalition of various socio-political organizations—was intended to coincide with the United Nations’ Interfaith Harmony Week, observed annually from February 1st to 7th.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the event aimed to bring together prominent scholars from diverse faiths, including Sanatan, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism, to deliver messages of love and peace. The lineup of speakers included notable figures such as Baba Kandeshwariji Maharaj, Moulana Habib-ur-Rehman, Sardar Surjit Singh, Father Vijay Kumar, Ven Lobzang Lama, and Prabodh Jaini, alongside a wide array of socio-political activists expected to attend.

However, the conference faced an unexpected obstacle when, a day prior to the event, police officials summoned the organizers—ID Khajuria, Mir Shahid Saleem, Narender Singh Khalsa, and Sunny Kant Chib—to local police stations. The organizers were informed of strict instructions from higher-ups to cancel the event, without any further explanation provided.

The decision to disallow the conference has sparked controversy, especially given its peaceful and unifying objectives. The organizers expressed their dismay, questioning the rationale behind the prohibition of an event designed to foster love and peace among various religious communities. They criticized the local administration’s stance, labeling it as an extreme form of dictatorship that suppresses even the most benign gatherings aimed at promoting interfaith harmony.

This incident has led to condemnation from various quarters, highlighting concerns over freedom of assembly and expression in the region. The organizers’ efforts to challenge stereotypes and encourage unity among different religious groups were thwarted, raising questions about the broader implications for civil liberties and interfaith dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir.