Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group setup in British Parliament
25th September 2016
The Institute of Jainology (IoJ), the international Jain organisation that is an umbrella body for UK Jain community organisations, is delighted to announce that on 22 September 2016, the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was established in the House of Commons, London.
The APPG is a grouping of parliamentarians from both houses of parliament, and all parties, who are interested in the Jain faith and community. Commenting on this occasions, IoJ Chairman, Mr Nemu Chandaria noted, “Jainism has now joined the other major faiths in the UK in having a APPG. This is a momentous occasion for the Jain community.”
Mr Gareth Thomas MP
The Hon. Gareth Thomas, Member of Parliament for Harrow West, was selected as the APPG Chair at the inaugural meeting. He commented; “I am delighted to have helped set up and serve as the first Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Jainism. Jainism is one of the world’s oldest religions but has not always received sufficient attention in Parliament.
Jains make an enormous contribution to our public life in a range of professions fields and business, and the APPG will help to ensure that Jains in the UK begin to get more of the recognition they deserve. I look forward to hosting a series of events to highlight Jainism in Parliament in the coming months, and to provide MPs and Lords the opportunity to learn more about this important religion, starting with the Ahimsa Day celebrations on 18th October.”
The Jain APPG will host the annual Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons on 18th October, and another event in the spring to mark the birth anniversary of Tirthankara Mahavir, Jainism’s last teacher who lived some 2,600 years ago.
IoJ Team at APPG Formation
Dr Mehool Sanghrajka, a Director of the IoJ, said on the occasion, “the APPG will make Jainism visible to current parliamentarians and we look forward to the day we can welcome the first Jain MP to our events. The APPG is an opportunity to bring awareness of the universal Jain values of non-violence, tolerance and compassion in all walks of public life, and in particular to human and animal rights, and the environment.”
