Lakhs of Jains Protest In Delhi’s India Gate and Mumbai
Jharkhand government declared Shri Sammed Shikharji, a very important pilgrimage for the Jain community as a tourist destination, Jains all over India have been protesting.
Ever since the Jharkhand government declared Shri Sammed Shikharji, a very important pilgrimage for the Jain community, as a tourist destination, Jains all over India have been protesting. ISH News had released a video about it earlier. You can watch the video here. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to PM Modi and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, urging him to reconsider the decision. The Vishva Hindu Parishad said that they are determined to protect the sanctity of all pilgrimage sites in India. The area should be declared a holy area and there should not be any tourist activity involving meat and drugs. They said, "The Ministry of Pilgrimage should be set up in Jharkhand soon so that the development of Sammed Shikharji, as well as all other pilgrimage sites there should be according to the faith of the followers.
On 1st January 2023, the Jain community had congregated at the Pragati Maidan in Delhi where it staged a mega protest. They then marched towards the presidential palace (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and handed over a letter to the President in New Delhi. The massive protest in the capital was also against the vandalism of the Palitana temple in Gujarat. At least 50,000 people from the Jain community in Mumbai carried out a protest demanding a ban on illegal mining and sales of illicit liquor in Palitana in Gujarat. This Jain community rally was organized at 6-7 places all over Mumbai. The Jain community even approached the high court and the Supreme Court, where the courts observed that the community's sentiments should not be hurt. Maharashtra Minister and famous builder MP Lodha said, "We are protesting against the vandalization of the temple in Palitana & Jharkhand Govt's decision. The Gujarat Govt has taken action but we want strict action against those who vandalised the temple. Today, more than 5 lakh people are on the streets.” Massive rallies were held in other parts of Maharashtra, like Pune, Sangli, Nashik, and Ahmedabad, Gujarat as well.
Vishwa Jain Sangathan has organized fast unto death in Rishabh Vihar, Delhi. Sanjay Jain of Vishwa Jain Sanghatana said, "No protocol is followed at Sammed Shikharji. Many people go there as tourists. We need protocols like Mata Vaishno Devi. There is no check post, barricading or CCTV cameras and anyone can enter. It is making our religious place unholy. After being declared a tourist destination, non-vegetarian people. come to visit there. Apart from this, they reach the temple wearing shoes, due to which the pilgrimage site gets polluted.AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi extended support to the protest and said the Jharkhand government must rescind the decision. Recently, Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari and Saharanpur MP Haji Fazlur Rehman raised this issue in Parliament. Addressing the Lok Sabha, MP Manoj Tiwari said, 'The Jharkhand government's decision has a direct impact on the sanctity of Sammed Shikhar. Jains want this order to be canceled.”
