Jain Community Protest: Hundred of members from Jain community took rallies and protested in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahemdabad, demanding action against the anti-social elements allegedly desecrating the sacred Shetrunjaya Hills in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district. Also, to oppose the Jharkhand Government’s move to declare the Shri Sammed Shikharji in Giridih District as a tourist place. Amid the rise in agitation, Gujarat Government has issued a task force.

Illegal Mining And Liquor Dens: Palitana Temple

Several religious heads of the community and people took part in the rallies and walked for 3 Kms. The agitators have demanded strict action against the illegal mining activities, liquor dens and encroachment of government land on the hills.

It is on banks of Shetrunji River around 164 feet above sea level, Shetrunjaya Hills near Palitana city.  The place is the home to 865 Jain temples and is a holy place for Shwetambara Jains.

Members of the community have held more than 85 rallies in different parts of the state ever since the “charan paduka” of a Jain saint was vandalised at a temple on the hills on November 26 last year, the secretary of a Jain trust in Ahmedabad said.

The community also handed over a memorandum with a list of demands at the district collector’s office, he said.

All the demands are related to illegal activities and the state government should not find it hard to tackle them, said Pranav Shah, secretary of Samagra Jain Swetambar Murtipujak Tapagachh Shree Mahasangh of Ahmedabad city.

“We are protesting against the vandalisation of the temple in Palitana & Jharkhand govt’s decision. The Gujarat Government has taken action but we want strict action against them (who vandalized the temple). Today more than 5 lakh people are on the streets,” Maharashtra Minister MP Lodha said.

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Shri Sammed Shikarji: Not To Convert It To A Tourism Spot

Members of the community held a massive protest in the several parts of the country. They are protesting against both the vandalism of the shrine in Gujarat as well as the Jharkhand government’s bid to use Shri Sammed Shikarji to promote religious tourism in the state.

On Sunday, a delegation from the Jain community even handed over a letter to President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi, expressing discontent over the two incidents. The community had congregated at the Pragati Maidan where it staged a mega protest before marching towards the Presidential palace.

Shikarji, the holy place located on Parasnath Hills, which is the highest mountain in Jharkhand state, is important for both Digambara and Svetambara sects as 20 out of 24 Jain Tirthankaras along with monks attained moksha in the place.

Protests were across Mysuru, Karnataka and Jharkhand. A letter campaign is planned to be launched for Prime Minister Narendra Modi where the community would urge the top leader to not convert the place into a tourism spot.

Gujarat Government Issued The Task Force Amid The Protest

Ahead of the ongoing protest, Gujarat Government said it will form a task force to address the issues raised by protesting Jain community.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said the state government will form a task force to deal with the grievances of the Jain community regarding alleged illegal activities in the Shetrunjaya Hills area in Bhavnagar district.

“The Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel) today took a decision to form a task force which will take action after thoroughly studying the issues,” said Sanghavi.

-Bharat Express