Spiritual leader asks EU to recognize Hinduism

NEW YORK: A US-based Hindu leader Rajan Zed has asked the European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering to ensure recognition of Hinduism in all the 27
member-states of the European Union.
    
Zed, who was invited in Brussels, had met Pottering on Wednesday to discuss problems faced by the Hindus and how to promote interfaith dialogue.
    
Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said besides recognition of the religion by the EU members, he had raised 15 more issues, including adequate representation of
Hindus in various bodies, fair treatment to all major religions, complete freedom of religious practice and declaring 'Diwali' as a major festival.
    
Drawing pottering's attention to the difficulties that Hindus face, Zed pointed out that the permission for building temples takes a long time and mostly denied.
    
He also asked labelling of the food products to indicate whether they contain non vegetarian substances.  Zed recited Gayatri Mantra from 'Rigveda' at the
beginning of the meeting and presented Pottering a copy of Hindu epic 'Bhagavadgita'.