Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, January 2
Followers of Jainism are protesting in different parts of the country against notification to convert the pilgrimage Samvet Shikhar ji in Giridih district, 200 km south from here in neighbouring Jharkhand, into a tourist centre.
On the recommendation of Jharkhand Government, Centre notified Samvet Shikhar Ji, Madhuban mountains in Giridih district as a tourist centre and constituted Parshwanath Tourism development authority. Amprapali forest reserve was declared a sanctuary to attract tourists.
Followers of Jainism believe 20 out of 24 Tirthankars had visited Samvet Shikhar Ji and it was a religious place for millions of Jains all over the world. Praman Sagar ji Maharajj, a Jain monk staying in Madhuban said with Samvet Shikhar Ji being declared a tourist spot, sanctity of the place is polluted and with tourists visiting the place and consuming wine and mutton, purity of the pilgrimage centre would be affected.
Shukhar Chandra Pahadiya, President of Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jan Teerth Yatra Khetra committee, regretted non-Jains would visit the temples with liquor bottles since the place was declared tourist spot.
Last week, non-Jain tourists from Ranchi and Dhanbad tried to enter the temple of Parsnhwanagh of Samvet Shikhar Ji, which was resisted by the Jain pilgrims coming from Madhya Pradesh and this led to scuffle between the two groups.
A group of Jain devotees of Parshwanath held protest demonstration at Madhuban police station and requested for not allowing the tourists on the Shikhar ji.
Protest and demonstrations have been organised at Mumbai, New Delhi, Indore, Ahmedabad and Bhopal also.
