Development corpn for Jains soon: Zameer

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister for Waqf and Minority Affairs B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that the government will ensure the creation of a separate development corporation for the Jain community in the days ahead. Responding to a question by Congress MLA Laxman Savadi, he said that a proposal has been placed before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "After becoming minister, I got a survey done.

There was a feeling that the Jain community in the state were those who came from Rajasthan and that they are about 4 lakh. After the survey it came across that they are about 20 lakh in number, which includes 4.75 lakh who have come from Rajasthan and are settled in the city's surroundings," Khan said. Kannada speaking Digambara Jains are settled in Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Vijayapura and surrounding areas.

They are about 15 lakh in number, he said. "I have already placed a proposal before the chief minister for creating a separate corporation for the Jain community. We will try and ensure that it happens at the earliest," he added. MLA Savadi said the Congress was given a hand symbol during Indira Gandhi's time by Jain monk Vidyanand Maharaj.