NB Explains | Why is Jain community protesting across India against Jharkhand govt over Shri Sammed Shikharji

The Jain community across India is observing a silent march protesting the Jharkhand government’s decision to declare Shri Sammed Shikharji, the holy place for the community, located in Parasnath Hills, in Giridih district of Jharkhand a tourist destination.

 

 

Shri Sammed Shikharji 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.

 

Every year, lakhs of Jains from across the world. undertake the 27 km long trek of climbing the hills to reach the summit that houses the salvation shrines of 20 Tirthankaras. Besides, the hills are also considered holy by the members of the Santhal tribe, who regard it as ‘Marang Buru’ and hold an annual festival here in mid-April.

 

 

Getting upset over "tourist place" tag, thousands of Jains have been staged protests in Karnataka, Maharashtra and of course Jharkhand and a letter campaign would also be launched, written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi where the community would urge the top leader to not convert the place into a tourism spot.

 

 

The same matter has been raised by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM). It has written to the Chief Secretary, the Jharkhand government about denotifying Parasnath Parvatraj Giridih (Jharkhand) as an eco-tourism centre and declaring the same as a holy place and has decided to hold a hearing on January 17, 2023 at 3 pm.

 

Earlier on November 28, a letter has been written to the Chief Secretary Government of Jharkhand to consider the request and declare the Sammed Shikharji as a holy place only as this is regarded as the highest place of pilgrimage of the Jain religion. However, the community alleges that no action has been taken so far.

 

Earlier, it was reported the matter was raised in the parliament by various members. Speaking about the same, the Union Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy made a statement in the parliament saying that his ministry was not a part of any such decision, but was in talks with the Jharkhand government over the issue.

 

Several leaders have met Reddy discussing the same matter. Union Minister Smriti Irani met him to voice concerns against the Hemant Soren-led govt in Jharkhand. She tweeted, "Met Minister @kishanreddybjp Ji to discuss concerns of Jain community regarding the holy Shri Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand."

 

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Dharmadhikaari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and Rajya Sabha MP D Veerendra Heggade also met Reddy. He said, "Today,I spoke to @kishanreddybjp, Minister for tourism and culture at New Dehli,regarding Sammed Shikharji issue.He promised to support the Jain community by writing a letter to State Minister that it should not be declared as a tourist place."