Minority status to Jains will help their growth: PM

New Delhi: After the government included Jains in the list of minority communities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed hope that the status would help them to grow at a faster rate. Addressing a delegation of Jain community members led by Acharya Lokesh Muni, he said the community has been demanding minority status at national level since long and he is “happy that it has got this status, this decision will help Jain community to develop at a faster rate”.[caption id=“attachment_1363817” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. PTI[/caption] “The government has taken many steps for welfare of minority communities in the country, to give them the feeling of security and trust so that they develop at faster pace,” the prime minister said. Expressing his gratitude towards the Centre for issuing notification for minority status to Jain community at national level, Lokesh Muni said with this, the community will be able to maintain its unique and prominent culture. “Their culture will get constitutional support. This will help in making Bhagwan Mahavir’s philosophy of non-violence, co-existence and tolerance universal,” he said. Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said the demand of minority status to Jain community was pending with the government since long and “I am happy that this demand has been fulfilled during my tenure.” PTI