Jain Mahasangh demand Jharkhand govt to designate Shri Sammed Shikharji as holy place, urge to hand it over to community

Chennai, Jan 6: Tamil Nadu Jain Mahasangh on Friday demanded the Jharkhand government to designate Shri Sammed Shikharji, one of sacred Jain pilgrimage as a holy place and hand it over to the community.

 

This came after Tamil Nadu Jain Mahasangh representatives held a protest, in Chennai, today against the Jharkhand decision to declare ‘sacred’ Shri Sammed Shikharji a tourist place.

 

 

However, taking prompt cognizance of the issue, the government has put an immediate stay on implementing Clause 3 of the Eco-Sensitive Zone Notification, which includes tourism and eco-tourism activities.

 

“We welcome the centre’s decision and demand that the Jharkhand government designate it as a holy place and hand it over to the community,” said a Jain Mahasangh representative.

 

 

This comes in the backdrop of Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav asking the state to forbid all eco-tourism activities in the Shri Sammed Shikharji area. The Jain community has been protesting against the Jharkhand government’s tourism policy which aimed to develop Shri Sammed Shikharji, in Parasnath hills, as a tourist place.

 

“Met Jain community members who have been urging to protect the sanctity of Sammed Shikhar. Assured them that PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s government is committed to preserving and protecting the rights of Jain community over all their religious sites, including Sammed Shikhar,” Tweeted Bhupendra Yadav.

 

He further said that the Sammed Shikhar falls in the eco-sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

“Sammed Shikhar falls in the eco-sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a list of prohibited activities that can’t take place in and around the designated eco-sensitive area. Restrictions will be followed in letter and spirit,” Tweeted Yadav.