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city. Fortunately for Modi, Digambar sub-sect, who have launched agitation in New Delhi, are in less number in Rajkot, and most of the Jain leaders, who are affiliated to the party, are not Digambars. Be it Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Rupani or Home Minister Amit Shah and former speaker Dhiru Shah, none of them is follower of the sect. In Surat, Jain leaders claimed that Jainism and Hinduism run parallel to each other. "We believe in Karma but we do not believe in God. Hinduism is a society comprising four religions, Sikhism, Vedic, Jainism and Buddhism. As a religion we hold a separate entity," said a priest of Jain Samaj, Surat.
It is deeply regrettable that on this important issue which will effects all Jains, the community and its leadership at national level is quietly watching the scene. Except Digambar Jain Samaj of Delhi no other Indian Jain organisation or Jain Instututions existing outside India have shown any strong reaction on this issue. Institution like JAINA which represents the entire Jain community of North America and Canada can play an important role in dealing with Modi Government. In view of the All India Digambar Jain (Dharam Sanrakshini) Mahasabha's protest against the controversial amendment passed in Gujarat Assembly to include Jainism in the Hindu fold, the State Home department is yet to send a relevant file on the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2006 to Governor Naval Kishore Sharma for his assent.
Bal Patil Secretary-General
OPEN LETTER TO SMT. SONIA GANDHI, PRESIDENT, INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
By
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Chakresh Jain President
JAINS MAKE REPRESENTATION TO SOLICITOR GENERAL
Vadodara, The predominant Jain sect in Gujarat, the Shwetambar Murtipujak Jain Sangh, held a quiet meeting with state's solicitorgeneral recently to assert that Jainism is a distinct religion and not a Hindu denomination.
MODI'S BILL NOT ACCEPTABLE TO MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS
The Catholic church of Gujarat is starting a statewide protest signature campaign against amendments in religious setups. The Gujarat government's proposed Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2006 seems to have stirred a hornet's nest, as it has got activists as well as different faiths opposing it, even if on different grounds. For the Muslims also the state government's proposed amendment, which gives a go-ahead to different sects within the same religion to move to another sect, has caused great resentment.
JAIN COMMUNITY WANTS NARENDRA MODI OUT
The entire Jain community in Gujarat is feeling highly agitated over the amendment passed in the Assembly to include Jainism into the Hindu fold. They have demanded an immediate dismissal of the Modi government and have asked the community members to relinquish posts held by them in the Bharatiy Janta party, if necessary. An appeal has been sent to the President, Prime Minister and the Home Minister to dismiss the government. The All India Digambar Jain Mahasabha has also appealed to the Governor of Gujarat not to give his assent to the Bill and refer it to the President, as it violates Article 25 of the Constitution.
JAINISM AND HINDUISM ARE SEPARATE RELIGIONS L. D. INSTITUTE, AHMEDABAD
Though the controversial Freedom of Religion (amendment) Bill recently passed by Gujarat Assembly the government has clubbed Jains as a denomination of Hinduism, several ancient manuscripts and texts present at L.D. Indology institute describe the two as different religious entities. "There is absolutely no doubt that both Hinduism and Jainism are different religions and at our institute we have several ancient manuscripts and scriptures, about 1,000-year-old, and can easily prove this," said Jitendra Shah, the director of the Ahmedabad based L D Institute of Indology. An ancient text, 'sad-darshana-samucchaya' written about 1,200 years ago on Indian philosophies by a renowned scholar Hari Bhadra Suri clearly states this difference.
Similarly, another text 'syad-vada-manjari' written by Malli Sen Suri about 800 years ago, is a religious commentary and dwells in detail on these two religions, he said. While explaining the difference between the two religions as mentioned in these ancient texts, Shah, a Jain scholar himself said "Hinduism and Jainism are poles apart when it comes to individual Gods, rituals, religious practices and the way of living practised by followers of these religions." Talking about the differences in Gods, Shah said," Three main Gods -- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh -- form the base of Hinduism while among Jains there are 24 Trithankaras." "In Jainism, there is no concept of re-incarnation of Gods, while in Hinduism, Gods are re-born in different forms to counter the evil on Earth," Shah said. Courtesy: Anish A. Shah.
NAXALITE PROBLEM, A REALITY OR A THREAT- ACHARYA MAHAPRAGYA
Hunger is a reality. When it is trampled by the wealthy people it poses a danger. In fact wealthy class of people is trying to underplay this reality and thus it is becoming more threatening. If Naxalites are using their weapons to create terror amongst the community. it is a sign of danger. On the contrary, if it is a signal to awake those who are denying the reality of hunger, then it should not be taken as a danger. Leftist ideology and Naxalism are spreading rapidly. It is a cause of concern for many. The irony is however is that the people who should worry are interested in furthering display of their wealth and consumerism, thereby playing hides and seek with the facts.
I do not wish to dwell at length the various problems. I want to emphasise that those who consider the Naxalism as a threat of direct
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05/18/2011
