Karnataka Minister Abhay Chandra Jain today found himself in a piquant situation after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to yield to his demand that he be given a portfolio other than fisheries as it was against the principles of Jainism.
"The Chief Minister refused to accept my demand and told me that there is a huge potential in the ministry and I could do better work since I hailed form the coastal belt. Hence, I have decided to continue as Fisheries Minister," he told reporters here.
The Minister, who is a vegetarian and a Jain by religion, has been airing his dissatisfaction of holding fisheries portfolio as it was against non-violent principles of Jainism.
Jain had said earlier that he wants to relinquish fisheries portfolio as there was a strong backlash from his community.
"I will not go against my community. The portfolio, which has been given, is against the principles of Jain community," he had said.
Jain, however, expressed satisfaction of holding an additional portfolio of Youth Services by reminiscing that his father was a tennis champion at Banaras Hindu University before Independence.
