Hyderabad|India|Oct'2008:The United Nations General Assembly declared October 2 — the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi — as ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ in recognition of his role in promoting the message of peace around the world. To mark the occasion, a Jain Monk plans novel initiatives here in city to create public awareness.

Killing an infant child before he/she takes birth is nothing short of violence. It should be stopped with immediate effect, stated Acharya Rajyesh Suriswar Ji, one of the top Jain Monks who in city on a nation wide journey. Addressing series of religious and social gatherings in city, he urged Jain Community and other people to observe October 2nd as the Non-Violence Day befittingly. He also stressed that offlate the number of abortions are on the increase in India. Annually approximately about 2.5 crore unborn kids are killed by their mothers while they are in their womb. Which is unfair. To stop this practice and to create awareness on the increasing number of terminations of pregnancies some city Jains under the guidance and preachings of their Guru Acharya Rajyesh Suriswar Ji embarked on two novel activities.

They are to stage a skit ‘Maa, muje math maro’ on October 2nd on the eve of the Non-Violence Day. This is will be staged at 7:30 pm at Mahavir Bhavan near Feelkhana Jain Temple. On the same day in the morning at 11.00 am thousands of Jains are to go in procession to Hussain Sagar Lake to offer flowers and rice for the peace of the departed souls of 2.5 crore unborn kids who were killed in the wombs by their own parents, even before they could see the light of their life. Which is very unfair. The young siblings have right to take birth. Parents don’t have right to kill or terminate their pregnancies, said Acharay Rajyesh Suriswar Ji.

Reacting sharply to the proposed amendments or liberalisation of abortion law in our country he said, Health Ministry is currently examining to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act 1971 and explore the possibilities increasing the period of MTP from current 20 weeks to 24 weeks and relaxing the conditions for such MTPs.

The matter was put to debate recently, when Mumbai resident Niketa Mehta approached Mumbai High Court to legitimise the MTP in the 24th week. Her unborn child was detected with severe heart disease when she was pregnant by 24 weeks and Niketa wanted to abort the baby for fear that it would suffer for life. The court had declined her request.

Acharya Rajyesh Suriswar Ji deplored the Indian Government’s Review Proposal to extend cutoff time for abortions and urged them to stop such proposal immediately. Instead of making stringent laws to punish those who kill the innocent kids, now they are planning to further relax or liberalise the law. Which is not in good interest to the Indian Society.He urged the Union Government to rethink and withdraw any such proposal.