Pradeep Kumar Jain Becomes Union Minister

Pradeep Kumar Jain 'Aditya' , new member of parliament elected from Jhansi, is now joined the union cabinet as a Minister of State.

About Pradeep Kumar Jain

Elected from Jhansi constituency in Bundelkhand, 47-year-old Jain is not only a first-timer in the Union ministry but a first-time MP as well. Before becoming a MP, he was the sitting MLA from Jhansi Assembly constituency. Sources in the UPCC said Jain is regarded as a diligent worker, who has worked hard to revive the party in the Bundelkhand region. Since Bundelkhand is said to be close to Rahul Gandhi’s heart and Jain is regarded as one of the younger lot, he fits in Gandhi’s vision for 2012


Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh. “His name comes as a surprise. But the fact that he comes from Bundelkhand explains it all. It will certainly give a boost to the region. He is regarded as a grassroot-level worker in the party,” said a senior UPCC leader.

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