The City Council of Perth (Australia), which has been opening its monthly meetings with a “non-denominational Christian” prayer since at least 1997, has turned down request to have Hindu opening-prayer in an upcoming session.
Amy, Quality & Stakeholder Officer of the City of Perth, (responding to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed’s request to Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas for scheduling him to read the opening-prayer in the Council), wrote in an email: Currently there is no available opportunity…
Request of Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, for one-time reading of the Hindu prayer supplied by him, was also not accepted. Prayer is the first order of business for ordinary Council meetings; and the Chief Executive Officer reads the same prayer in every Council meeting.
Rajan Zed feels that it is plainly a case of unfairness, discrimination, favoritism; and does not speak well of a democratic society.
Zed suggests that it is time for the Perth City Council to move to multi-faith opening prayers. Since the Council represents every resident irrespective of religion/denomination/non-belief, it would be quite befitting to do a rotation of prayers representing major religions/denominations, including slots for the thoughts of non-believers, he adds.
As adherents of all religions, including minority religions, and non-believers have made a lot of contributions to Perth and continue to do so and pay their share of the taxes; they should all get representation in the Council prayer. Democratic governments should not be influenced by one religion or the other; Rajan Zed, who has opened both the United States Senate and US House of Representatives in Washington DC with Hindu prayers, emphasizes.
Zed thinks that the existence of different religions is an evident symbol of God’s generosity and munificence. Perth City Council, which claims it as “City of Light”, should quest for a unity that hailed diversity.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents, and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.
“The city of Perth has its origins in 1829 when the Swan River Colony was established by the British Government”. Fourth most populous city in Australia, City of Perth is currently promoting various Christmas related events on its website and states that “there’s no better place to enjoy Christmas than in the City of Perth”. There are Lotterywest Festive Lights shows, City of Perth Christmas Tree, lighting up of Council House with Christmas icons, etc.