Jain Development Corporation proposed, says Karnataka minister Zameer

Bengaluru: Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday told the Assembly that his department has proposed to set up a development corporation for the Jain community. 

Zameer was responding to Athani MLA Laxman Savadi who asked him about the government’s stand on establishing a Jain Development Corporation. 

“I have sent a proposal to the chief minister,” Zameer said. 

“After I became the minister, I got a survey done. People think Jains hail only from Rajasthan. There are 20 lakh Jains. Those from Rajasthan are 4.75 lakh. There are about 15 lakh Kannada-speaking Digambar Jains in and around Belagavi, Hubballi and Dharwad,” Zameer said. 

Savadi said the community should get its own development corporation. 

“When Jain Mahamuni Vidyanand Maharaj was in Delhi, there was a dispute on the Congress’ symbol. Indira Gandhi visited him. He advised her to use the ‘hand’ instead of cow and calf as the Congress’ symbol and that she would reach heights. The Mahamuni hailed from Athani. That’s the connection the Congress’ symbol has with the Jain community,” Savadi said. 

“I want to tell the minister (Zameer)...he’s an MLA and minister because of the ‘hand’ symbol, which was given by the Jain Mahamuni. We owe him,” Savadi said.