Finally on paper, Jains separated from Hindus!

New Delhi, 20 January 2014

Proven champion of identity and divide politics, the Congress party-led UPA government in centre has finally separated the Jain community from Hindu faith and accorded minority status to it.

The decision to grant minority status to the community of about 50 lakh was taken at a meeting of Union Cabinet here, a day after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took up this issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan told PTI that his ministry would soon issue a notification on the issue. The decision will enable the Jain community to avail of benefits in government schemes and programmes for minorities. Jains can also manage and administer their own educational institutions.

A group of Jains had met Rahul yesterday to press for their long-standing demand for minority status and Rahul then spoke to Singh in their support.

The Jains became the sixth community to have minority status after Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis.

The community is already enjoying minority status in some states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan but the new decision extends that status across the country.

Also read:On minority status to Jains