Spiritual heads of Hindu and Christian communities have decided that 'both religions will work together' and condemned any form of attacks.

Addressing a joint press conference after a four-hour meeting in Kochi, Kerala [Images], on Monday, Swami Chithananthapuri, Head of Advaitha ashram and Archbishop Basaileos Clemus said, "The unity and understanding among various religions were important for the unity and development of the nation. Religious faith was important for each and every person and it was wrong to forcefully change one's religious dictum."

Archbishop Clemus said religious conversions through enticement and force were wrong but if a person wants to pursue a religious faith after studying that religion, it was acceptable.

The inter-religious talks were organised by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council to safeguard the religious harmony prevailing in Kerala in the wake of recent attacks on places of worship in Orissa, Karnataka and few incidents in the state.

Swami Chithananthapuri said, "Culprits behind such attacks should be brought to book instead of getting into conclusion that people belonging to a particular religion were behind the attacks."

They said talks were just a stepping stone towards more such interactions between the religious heads of both communities.

The meeting was attended by 14 heads of the Hindu organisations, including Devanand Saraswathi, Vivekananda Saraswathi of Chinmaya Mission, Jnanaamrithanandapuri of Amritananthamayi and Kummanan Rajasekharan of Hindu Aikyavedia and nine Christian religious leaders, including Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayethil, CBCI President and KCBC President Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil.