Himachal for Peace and Harmony Forum organizes Seminar, State Convention on 25 March 2026

• Takes pledge to uphold communal harmony in the country and the state
• State Convention to be held on 25 March 2026

Dozens of democratic and progressive organizations in Shimla city organized a seminar under the banner of the ‘Himachal for Peace and Harmony Forum’ at Rotary Town Hall, Shimla, to strengthen peace and communal harmony in the state. In the seminar, representatives pledged to protect the country’s communal harmony, secularism, and the Constitution.

The seminar was attended by Dr. Kuldeep Tanwar, Dr. Rajkumar Jishtu, Maulana Mumtaz Ahmad Qasmi, Haji Saleem, Robin Sinha, Amar Chand Bhatia, Renu Thakur, Khursheed Vani, Mahfooz Malik, Naved Alam, Tikender Panwar, Rakesh Singha, Dr. Onkar Shad, Sanjay Chauhan, Vijendra Mehra, Jagat Ram, Falmna Chauhan, Satyawan Pundir, Ram Singh, Balak Ram, Amit Kumar, Vivek Kashyap, Sunny Sikta, Yogi Singhanaiya, Mukesh Kumar, Sunil Vashisht, and others.

Addressing the gathering, Forum Convener Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar stated that the recurrence of incidents promoting communalism in the state capital is a matter of concern.

He said that Himachal Pradesh has always been known across the country for its social standards in education, health, and employment. However, for some time now, a tense atmosphere is being continuously created in the state by communal forces, which has on one hand tarnished the state’s name, and on the other, posed a grave threat to the tourism industry, one of the state’s biggest economic resources.

He added that the daily functioning of the state capital and the state depends heavily on the minority community, which is engaged in work ranging from carrying goods, selling fruits and vegetables, tailoring, and various other jobs. Communal tension not only affects their livelihood but also brings the city’s pace to a halt.

He further stated that the majority of traders who come for the purchase of apples, the backbone of the state’s economy, belong to the minority community, and their absence has impacted apple sales as well.

Dr. Tanwar said that the state is currently grappling with severe problems like natural disasters, economic crisis, and drug addiction. At this time, communal tension can be fatal for the state.

He called for firmly confronting the communal forces challenging the country’s Constitution. He appealed to the citizens of Shimla city and the people of the state to strengthen peace, brotherhood, tranquility, and communal harmony in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh.

Former MLA Rakesh Singha said that the people of the state have always protected constitutional and democratic values. Secularism is enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution, where all religions have equal rights. The Constitution does not discriminate against any citizen on the basis of religion, caste, region, or race. But communal forces repeatedly create an atmosphere for racial violence. People’s unity is essential to counter their such conspiracies.

Former Deputy Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation, Tikender Panwar, said that our state has been an example in the country for brotherhood, peace, tranquility, communal harmony, and unity. However, recent communal violence has tarnished the image of Himachal Pradesh within the country and abroad. He said these developments have caused a rift in the unity of the state’s people and weakened the state’s peace and order. He appealed to the people of the state to come forward to protect human values and establish brotherhood in the state.

Representatives from organizations of the minority community called upon the people to maintain unity so that peace and communal harmony prevail in Himachal Pradesh in the future.

Representatives of all organizations present in the seminar took an oath to work for the unity and integrity of the country rising above religion, caste, region, gender, and race, to maintain mutual brotherhood, peace, and tranquility, and to uphold democratic and secular values.

The Forum decided that a State-Level Convention for Peace and Harmony will be organized in Shimla on 25 March 2026. Prior to that, district-level forums will be formed and seminars will be organized in every district.