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JAINS IN PUNJAB MOVE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON MINORITY ISSUE
Chandigarh: The Jains in Punjab sought minority status on the lines of Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Delhi under the State Minorities Commission Act.. They feel that it is a violation of human rights and fundamental rights. With repeated petitions failing to have an effect on those concerned, Dr Sandeep Kumar Jain and Dev Kumar Jain from Ludhiana have approached the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), seeking the status on the ground that explanation II of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution relating to fundamental right to religious freedom mentions Jainism along with Budhism and Sikhism. Jain employees in the state government services are not able to observe their festivals like Samvatsari and Paryushan Mahaparvas as there are no restricted holidays for these. No half-day leave is granted to Jains to participate in shobha yatras.