Members of the Jain community on Sunday held a nationwide protest against the Jharkhand government's decision of declaring Sammed Shikharji as a tourist place and the vandalisation of a Jain temple in Gujarat.
The community staged a protest In Delhi and Mumbai against the Jharkhand government's decision.
Significance of Shri Sammed Shikharji
Shri Sammed Shikharji is located at Parasnath Hills in Jharkhand and is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Digambara and Svetambara sects. It is said that in Sammed Shikharji, 20 of the 24 Tirthankars (Jain spiritual leaders) attained salivation.
Every year, thousands of Jains undertake the 27 km long trek of climbing the hills to see the houses of salvation shrines of 20 Tirthankaras.
According to FPJ, Palitana is considered a holy place for the Jains because the first Tirthankar is said to have attained Moksha there while Sammed Shikharji is considered one of the holiest pilgrimage places because 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras among other monks attained Moksha there.
Palitana Temple Row
The protest erupted after CCTV footage showed some miscreants vandalising the steps and pole of the temple in Palitana, Shatrunjaya hill.
As per reports, the community has also alleged illegal encroachment near Shatrunjaya hill. A statement from the organisation said that houses are being built illegally on gauchar, the land reserved for cattle grazing and also forest land, reported TOI.
Some have also alleged the running of illegal liquor shops around the area and asked the government to intervene.
"We are protesting against the vandalisation of the temple in Palitana & Jharkhand govt's decision. The Gujarat govt has taken action but we want strict action against them (who vandalised the temple). Today more than 5 lakh people are on the streets," Maharashtra Minister MP Lodha was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.
Nationwide Protest
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to PM Modi and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren urging him to reconsider the decision after several Jain members in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal took to the streets protesting the decision to turn Sammed Shikharji into an eco-tourism spot.
Protests were also witnessed at Delhi's India Gate and Pragati Maidan. A similar protest was held in Mumbai where thousands of devotees from the Jain community took part to demonstrate against the government's decision.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad issued a statement in response to the state government's decision, stating that the VHP is committed to preserving the sanctity of all pilgrimage sites in India.
"The Ministry of Pilgrimage should be set up in Jharkhand soon so that the development of Siddha Kshetra Parshwanath mountain as well as all other pilgrimage sites there should be according to the faith of the followers. Necessary amendments should be made in the related notifications so that Siddha Parshwanath mountain and Tirtharaj Sammed peak can never be developed as tourist areas," the VHP statement read.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi extended support to the protest and said the Jharkhand government must rescind the decision. "We support this Jain community protest and the Jharkhand government must rescind the decision & @CMOGuj must take strong action."