Bengaluru: Home Minister Araga Jnanendra claimed that Vokkaligas of the Malnad region of the State were once Jains.
“Even today in our rituals and celebrations, we keep aside Jaina Ede,” he said.
He was speaking after conferring the Mahakavi Rathnakaravarni award to Muniraja Renjala in the City. The award was given by Dakshina Kannada Jaina Maitrikuta.
“Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade of Dharmastala thought I belong to the Jain community. My name made him think so,” he said.
D. Surendra Kumar Dharmastala and others were present for the event.
