Opinion divided on Freedom Bill

Ahmedabad, Sep 22: Introduced in the assembly as an amendment to the anti-conversion law passed three years ago, the present amendment incorporated in the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2006 states that Jainism and Buddhism shall be construed as denominations of the Hindu religion.

Jains constitute about 5.25 lakh or one per cent of the state's population, while there is only a minuscule population of the Buddhists in the state.

The common refrain from Jain munis here is that Jains have been historically different and to amalgamate them in the ocean of Hinduism was not proper.

Jain muni Ajay Sagar Maharaj of Sri Mahavir Jain Aradhana, near Koba circle, on Gandhinagar highway yesterday said that historically, philosophically and religiously Jainism has been ''unique'' and it has maintained its separate identity. Yet current political situation has vitiated the tranquility in the society, which can be termed as ''disturbed''. To say anything about the amendment Bill of 2006 would be unwittingly aggravating the disturbance further.

He was categorical about the ''Law of dharma'', which defines what Jainism is and stands for and no man-made law can be passed that decides differently the principles underpinning a religion. It is only as per the law of nature that every religion subsists and this power cannot be usurped either by Parliament or state legislative assemblies, said Sagar maharaj.

Dharma decides its own status as per the law of nature that governs all of us, he added.

Taking a contrarian view Lalitbhai Dhabhi who heads the Tapovan Sanskar Peeth (also known as Koba Tirth Jain Vidyalaya) at Sugargam on Gandhinagar highway, said the nomenclature may be different, yet Jains are as much Hindus as Hindus are. Jains have come from the same stock of Hindus.

Clarifying that he was simply echoing his Guru Panyasa Chandrasekhar Vijayshri Maharaj's views, he said it did not matter what the Supreme Court says regarding the Jains.

''Let it say whatever it wants to. By dharma, the Jains belong to the all-encompassing Sanatana dharma, the Hindus too are part of it.'' He further said the Jains are financially self-sufficient and they are not interested in getting a minority status to access the government benefits.'' Jains are rich and why should we seek monetary help from the government, he quipped.

Dabhi who is the kulapati of the tapovan, said his institution teaches among other things good 'sanskar' and 'adarsh' to its 400 boys who study here from standard five to 12. Even in the board exams, they all have done well, he added.

Meanwhile, the state unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad too has hailed the passing of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill in the state assembly.

The state VHP president Jaydeep Patel and its working president Dilip Trivedi said the conversions take place under guile, coercion and inducements by taking advantage of poverty and illiteracy among the adivasis. The Bill would protect them from such forces, who are flush with foreign funds and involved in conversions, they added.

UNI