New Delhi: The Jain community has been included in the list of minorities, an official statement from the minority affairs ministry said yesterday. They will be in addition to the five communities already notified as a minority. These are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis). The cabinet last week approved notification of Jains as a minority community at the national level. The change was made by a government notification last week. Jains comprise 0.4 percent of India’s population and in the 2001 census, were about 42 lakh-strong. Their population is now estimated at around 50 lakh. Once recognised as a minority, they will get a share in central funds earmarked for welfare schemes and government programmes as well as scholarships. They can also manage and administer their own educational institutions.
Mithun to contest for RS seat from Bengal
Kolkata: Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty and four other candidates filed their nominations yesterday for the February 7 Rajya Sabha elections from West Bengal. Chakraborty, who has been named candidate of the ruling Trinamool Congress, later said he would work for the people and the state. “I have always worked for the people. I will continue to do so. I will highlight the interests of the state,” he said after formally joining the fray. Three other Trinamool nominees — painter Jogen Chowdhury, Bengali daily Kalam’s editor Ahmed Hassan and K D Singh — also filed their papers for the polls which will elect five candidates from the state to the upper house of parliament.
Man surrenders in gold heist case
Hyderabad: A man has surrendered in the sensational Rs5.97 crore gold heist from a leading jewellery shop here, while another accused is still at large, police said. The accused, Kiran Kumar, reached a television channel’s office late on Sunday and informed the staff that he stole the gold ornaments from Tanishq showroom in Punjagutta on January 24-25. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said nearly 15.57kg of gold ornaments and precious stones were recovered.
IANS
