Govt decides to move official amendment to define minority

New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI)
Government today decided to move an official amendment to the Constitution to define minority, a step which could enable it designate the Jains as a minority community.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today approved a proposal to introduce the Constitution 103rd Amendment Bill to define minority, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here.

The legislation came in the backdrop of several Supreme Court directives to the government to decide on the issue.

"This Bill is about the power to define a minority. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to decide the issue of giving minority status to Jains. A number of orders have been passed by the Supreme Court in this behalf," he said.

The Bill was introduced earlier and referred to the Standing Committee. After considering its recommendations, it was decided to move official amendments. However, the notice for amendments issued to Lok Sabha secretariat lapsed.

"Further issues were raised in the meantime. These have now been resolved and action will be taken to move the official amendments to the pending Constitution amendment bill," Chidambaram said.

Under the proposed amendment, minority means a community which may be specified by the President or notified by the Central government, the Minister said.

The Cabinet also decided to pursue its earlier decision to accord Scheduled Tribe status to the children of the inhabitants of Lakshadweep, who were born in any other place in India. So far, the children of such people who had moved to other parts of the country were denied ST status. PTI

The ‘don’ of non-violence

Sanjay Singh
Tribune News Service

Patna, December 16People facing serious criminal charges being elected to the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha is hardly a surprise in Bihar. Almost all political parties have a fair share of such don-turned-politicians. There are also instances of incarcerated MLAs and MPs doing graduation, postgraduation and Phd from different varsities.

But how about an MLA, involved in various crimes, including murder, loot, extortion and kidnapping, getting a doctorate for his research on non-violence. Meet Narendra Kumar Pandey alias Sunil Pandey, who has been awarded a PhD degree by Veer Kunwar Singh University (VKSU), Ara, for his research on the topic “Mahavir’s Preachings in Modern Context”. Interestingly, the legislator — who has been suspended by the ruling JDU for his continued criminal behaviour — made headlines four months ago when he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court for getting a Patna neuro-surgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra kidnapped for ransom.

Once again, he is in the limelight but for totally different reasons. The university published the result on November 27. A varsity source revealed that a team of experts on Jainism had taken Pandey’s interview (viva-voce examination) for the doctorate degree on November 25. He had appeared in the oral examination under police custody and the vice-chancellor of VKSU was also present there.

Pandey’s guide for PhD was Dr Ramji Rai, head of the history department of S.B.College, Ara. Pandey has been awarded a gold medal by the institute for excelling in studies and extra- curricular activities. Considered as an authority on Jainism and Prakrit, he has to his credit many articles on ‘non-violence’. Pandey is said to be a lifetime member of All India Oriental Conference (Pune), Indian Society of Budhist Studies (Jammu) and Indian Society of Gandhian studies. If his supporters are to be believed, Pandey has set his eyes on DLitt now.

Jain Nuns Support Hindu Terrorism

Jain Nuns Support Hindu Terrorism

Renowned Jain nuns Priti Sudha and Madhusmita have supported the anti Muslim activities of Sanatan Sanstha which is a Bramhin extremist organization involved in making bombs and using them against Muslims. Recently the Maharashtra Police has arrested some members of this organization in the bomb blast cases at Nanded, Parabhani and Thane.

Most of the members of this organization are from Chitpvan Bramhin community and the tolerant Hindus have nothing to do with it. While organizations like Jain Panthers, Sambhaiji Brigade, Chhaava and many others have already demanded to ban Sanatan Sanstha, it is a shameful thing that these Jain nuns have opposed the banning. In a statement, Priti Sudha has said, “Sanatan Sanstha is a patriotic Organization. If some people are working against the nation, Sanatan Sanstha responds. Tit for Tat is not a sin. It will be a wrong step if the Government bans this organization”

It should be noted that for Sanatan Sanstha, not only the Muslims and Christians are the enemies of India, but their list of enemies includes Jains and Buddhists also.

But there is no wonder that Priti Sudha supports Sanatan Sanstha as she loves Sanatan Vedik Dharma than Jainism. One can see her Sanatan views in her sermons and books. She believes in Varna and caste system. She believes that Bramhins are great and Shudrs should serve them. Her each sermon starts with reciting ‘Gurur Bramha Gurur Vishnu Gurur Deva Mahaeshwara’! In Jain words, she is just a Mithyatwi i.e. believer of false things..

Unfrotunately, most of the Jains, including monks and nuns, self styled leaders and commons have no common sense. So they do not know who are the foes and who are the friends. That is why they are sleeping with their enemies.

-Balasaheb Patil
Cell: 09096082940

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