Jodhpur: In an important pronouncement the Rajasthan High Court has declared Jains as a religious minority community and allowed teaching institutions set up by them to enjoy minority status under Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution. Allowing a writ petition filed by the Vijay Shanti Educational Trust, Justice Rajesh Balia on Sept. 15 held that Jains constituted a separate religious community and because of their small population they come under religious minority community. The petitioner trust, a body of Swetambar Jains, told the court that it had set up a dental college and hospital in Udaipur after obtaining permission from the State and Central Govt. and the Dental Council of India, and was now seeking minority status for the institution. (PTI-Hindu, Sept.16)
After the Ramakrishna Mission, Calcutta, made famous by India’s most famous Hindu monk, Vivekananda, the Jains have now joined the race to be declared non-Hindu. They are opting out of Hinduism not because they have any quarrel with “Hindu” a term which defies definition. Their objective is to make business which will be possible only when they get the “minority status”. Business is more important than god and religion. It is a fact that Jains are not Hindus. Jainism was the first revolt against brahminism (Hinduism). But today they are in the forefront of the Hindu nazi movement. But the nazi movement can continue side by side with business. And business will get a boost only if they are declared non-Hindu. All the more we congratulate the Jains for this bold step. The Digambars must follow-EDITOR
