05-13-2006, 05:51 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We are part of Hindu community, donât need minority status: Jains
Opinion divided among various sects, but by and large community leaders think Centre is acting in haste; call it political ploy
Surat/Ahmedabad, May 11: THE Centre may be mulling over according Jains the status of a religious minority, but several leaders of the community have opposed the decision saying that Jains are a part of the Hindu community. Their argument: âHindus are not in the minority and thus there is no question of Jains accepting the minority status.â
Despite Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulayâs statement that he had held talks with âvarious Jain organisationsâ and that âthere was consensus in the communityâ over the issue, many Jain leaders in Gujarat feel the Centre has taken a hasty decision without getting an across-the-board consensus from the community.
In fact, there is reportedly a difference of opinion on the issue among the various Jain sects themselves. While the Shwetambars are opposing the proposal tooth and nail, the Digambars are divided about it, as are the Sthanakwasis. However, the Terapanthis are in favour of the minority status.
Sheth Ananji Kalyanji, a religious charitable trust representing All India Jain Shwetamber Murtipujak Shree Sangh, claims that a majority of Jains in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are not in favour of being declared a religious minority. ââWe are separate as believers of a religion but as a community we are Hindus only...this is a ploy to divide Hindus and Jains, and nothing else,ââ said an official on terms of anonymity, adding that the heads of the sect had the ultimate right to take a public stand on this.
ââIn fact, we Shwetambars are mostly in business while Digambers are into government and other jobs, and therefore want minority status for better career prospects and other incumbent benefits,ââ he said. Prominent Shwetamber businessmen include Mehtas of the Torrent Group, the Adanis, the Lalbhais and Rajendra Shah of Shah Alloys, according to him.
Another Jain leader and trustee of the Omkarsuri Aradhana Bhavan in Surat, Sevanti Mehta, said, ââGiving Jains the status of a religious minority is a sensitive issue, and a broad consensus of the community is required. A consensus will be reached when acharyas and religious leaders from all the four phirkasânamely Digambar, Shwetambar, Terapanthi and Sthanakvasiâare willing to accept the minority status.ââ
Mehta said the Centre seems to have taken the consensus of some like-minded Jain religious leaders and others have been neglected in the process, and added that a handful of religious leaders could not decide the fate of the entire community in the country.
Srenik Vidani, leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Sanskruti Rakshak Dal termed the Centreâs plan as a political arrangement. He said, ââJains are a part of the Hindu community and we have been living with this identity for centuries. We do not want to divide ourselves from the Hindu fold. The Centre is trying to divide Hindu unity by giving Jains the status of a religious minority.ââ
Nirav Shah, president of the Shwetamber Murtipujak Jain Yuva Mahasangh said, ââThis issue should be discussed in the entire Jain sangh and not with just a handful of Jain leaders. Those who have favoured the minority status are senseless people. We do not believe in minority politics because we are part of the Hindu community and will continue to remain so.ââ
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory...sid=182140<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Opinion divided among various sects, but by and large community leaders think Centre is acting in haste; call it political ploy
Surat/Ahmedabad, May 11: THE Centre may be mulling over according Jains the status of a religious minority, but several leaders of the community have opposed the decision saying that Jains are a part of the Hindu community. Their argument: âHindus are not in the minority and thus there is no question of Jains accepting the minority status.â
Despite Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulayâs statement that he had held talks with âvarious Jain organisationsâ and that âthere was consensus in the communityâ over the issue, many Jain leaders in Gujarat feel the Centre has taken a hasty decision without getting an across-the-board consensus from the community.
In fact, there is reportedly a difference of opinion on the issue among the various Jain sects themselves. While the Shwetambars are opposing the proposal tooth and nail, the Digambars are divided about it, as are the Sthanakwasis. However, the Terapanthis are in favour of the minority status.
Sheth Ananji Kalyanji, a religious charitable trust representing All India Jain Shwetamber Murtipujak Shree Sangh, claims that a majority of Jains in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are not in favour of being declared a religious minority. ââWe are separate as believers of a religion but as a community we are Hindus only...this is a ploy to divide Hindus and Jains, and nothing else,ââ said an official on terms of anonymity, adding that the heads of the sect had the ultimate right to take a public stand on this.
ââIn fact, we Shwetambars are mostly in business while Digambers are into government and other jobs, and therefore want minority status for better career prospects and other incumbent benefits,ââ he said. Prominent Shwetamber businessmen include Mehtas of the Torrent Group, the Adanis, the Lalbhais and Rajendra Shah of Shah Alloys, according to him.
Another Jain leader and trustee of the Omkarsuri Aradhana Bhavan in Surat, Sevanti Mehta, said, ââGiving Jains the status of a religious minority is a sensitive issue, and a broad consensus of the community is required. A consensus will be reached when acharyas and religious leaders from all the four phirkasânamely Digambar, Shwetambar, Terapanthi and Sthanakvasiâare willing to accept the minority status.ââ
Mehta said the Centre seems to have taken the consensus of some like-minded Jain religious leaders and others have been neglected in the process, and added that a handful of religious leaders could not decide the fate of the entire community in the country.
Srenik Vidani, leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Sanskruti Rakshak Dal termed the Centreâs plan as a political arrangement. He said, ââJains are a part of the Hindu community and we have been living with this identity for centuries. We do not want to divide ourselves from the Hindu fold. The Centre is trying to divide Hindu unity by giving Jains the status of a religious minority.ââ
Nirav Shah, president of the Shwetamber Murtipujak Jain Yuva Mahasangh said, ââThis issue should be discussed in the entire Jain sangh and not with just a handful of Jain leaders. Those who have favoured the minority status are senseless people. We do not believe in minority politics because we are part of the Hindu community and will continue to remain so.ââ
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory...sid=182140<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->