Leading Jain saint Shri Vijay Ratnasunder Surishwar Maharaj
categorically said in New Delhi that the Jains are part and parcel of
Hindu society and any move to separate them from the Hindu society
would set the disastrous precedent which may even lead to another
Division of the nation. He was presiding over a Dharma Sabha in Delhi
organised at Mahavir Kendra on March 1. All the speakers and the saints
participating in the Sabha stressed the need to warn the political
leadership in clear words not to divide the society any more. The
Dharma Sabha was organised by Indraprastha Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Shri Surishwar further said the recent decision of the
government to extend minority status to Jains would lead to separatism.
“Every section of the Hindu society believes in harmony and
togetherness. We need to first decide whether we wish to bridge the gap
or want to create a wall of differences. Despite the diversity of
various ways of worship, communities and Gods we all are one,” he said
adding that the Jains can never think of seeking separation from the
Hindu society. “Any move to extend minority status to any section of
the society today is equal to attacking the integrity of the country.
It should be seen as an attempt to destabilise the harmony between
various sections of the Hindu society,” he added.

He reminded the gathering of the Supreme Court decision
delivered by three judges bench headed by the then Chief Justice Shri
RC Lahoti in 2005 in which the court had clearly said the main task of
the Minority Commission is to suggest the ways and means to create the
social conditions in which first the names of various sections could be
deleted from the minority list and finally the entire list of
minorities is deleted forever. He said the Supreme Court is also in
favour of the creation of the society where the divisions of majority
and minority become irrelevant. “This attitude of the Supreme Court
should be acceptable to all of us and we should move in that direction
only so that the unity and harmony continues between all sections of
the society,” he added.

He further said all these sections of the society existed even
during the British regime and nobody was then divided on the basis of
minority or majority. “Then why the unity of the nation is being dented
in the name of cheaper issues. We have been living together for
centuries and in future also we will live together. I wish to state in
clear words that granting the status of minority to any section of the
Hindu society anywhere in the country is wrong and illegal and should
be rejected outrightly,” he added.

Swami Hansdas, general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Sant
Samiti, criticised the government move to divide the society on the
basis of minority and majority. Dr Surendra Jain, national spokesperson
of VHP, said the minoritysm is a curse for the integrity of the country
and it would prove very costly to the country. Kalikapeethadhishwar
Mahant Surendra Avadhoot and Swami Bhaktiswaroopanand also spoke at the
Dharma Sabha. The meeting also adopted a unanimous resolution, which
said the Jains are an integral part of Hindu society and granting them
minority status will damage the unity of the Hindu society.

(FOC)