Jain Protest March in Allahabad

ALLAHABAD: Protesting against the recent attack on a Jain saint in Junagadh district of Gujarat, members of Jain community took out a silent procession here on Wednesday to condemn the incident.

Holding placards and banners demanding punishment for the guilty persons, the protesters, including men, women and children, said the attack on saints amounts to insult of Indian culture and doctrine of Ahimsa.

The procession started from Zero Road Jain temple and after passing through Johnstangunj, Chowk, Leader Road and other parts of old city culminated at Subhash crossing in Civil Lines where a meeting was also held.

General secretary, Jain Samaj Prayag, Anoop Chandra Jain said Jainism preaches the doctrine of ahimsa in life and its followers are simple, austere and peace loving. They are guided by the principle of 'Live and let live'. The character and lifestyle of Jain saints who are involved relentlessly in hard penance is entirely different from others in society. In such a case, any attack on such person/persons is condemnable and government should punish the guilty severely.

Another speaker Rajesh Kumar Jain said the attack on Jain saints is an attack on Indian culture and Indian culture is identified by the presence of saints in such large numbers.

BJP Boycotts Jain Rally at Ahmedabad

Daily Bhaskar 11th January 2013

In a surprising development, BJP councillors belonging to the Jain community did not take part in a silent rally on Thursday over the issue of death of Jain monks in road accidents. Sources claimed that the party has issued a gag order against participation in the rally. 

Thousands of Jain devotees belonging to different sects marched from Mahalaxmi Crossroads to the collector’s office, seeking action from the government. The procession, which started at 8 am, was 3-km long. The protestors handed over a memorandum to the collector, urging the government to protect Jain monks from assaults through road accidents. 

 

However, the BJP’s Jain councillors were missing from the rally. According to sources in the party, “As the rally was taken out to make various demands before the government, the party has directed us not to take part in it. Still we are with the sentiments of our community. Whenever needed, we will support openly if the party permits us.”

 

“There are over ten Jain councillors in the city but they were not present in the rally. Our community mainly sought to implement the scheme for construction of pedestrians’ passage on the highway,” another source said, adding that Ellisbridge MLA Rakesh Shah was present in the rally for a short time.”

 

In his response, Shah said, “It is not true that I was present in the rally for a short time. In fact, I took part in the rally up to the Town Hall.” 

 

The Jains are accusing Anoop Mandal, a spiritual sect, behind the killing of monks through accidents.

Thousands protested road accidents involving Jain monks

Pune Jains March to Protest Attacks on Jain Monks

To protest the attacks on  Jain monks, Jain community from Pune organized a rally on 10th January 2013, under the banner of Sakal Jain Sangh Pune. The main organizers were Jain Sena and Jain Yuvak Mahasangh, Pune, supported by all Jain organizations in the city.

The organizers had expected some 5000 to 6000 participants, but in actual, estimated 30000 Jains, mostly youngsters, took part in the march, the biggest March of Jains in the history of Pune. Thanks to the young generation of Pune Jains.

Two volunteers with the banner of Sakal Jain Sangh

Jain Acharya Dharm Dhurandhar Suriji (Center) with other monks at the start of the march

A small part of the march passing through a street.

Jain Achary Dharm Dhurandhar Suriji reading the memorandum 

to be handed over to the District Collector of Pune

 A Jain mob in front the District Collector office Pune

Jain women in front of the District Collector Office, Pune

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