Pune:Welcoming the central government decision to step into the matter regarding the Jharkhand government’s decision of starting “tourism and ecotourism” activities on the Parasnath Hills, where the shrine is located, the Jain community leader Vinod Sankala here on Saturday demanded from government declare Sammed Shikharji, Palitana and Girnar as a pilgrimage place of jain community in the country.
Addressing a press conference here today Mr Sankala said that our Jain community had protesting against the state government’s decision, fearing it would result in commercialisation and destroy the sanctity of one of their holiest shrines if state government made it tourism place, but prime Minister Narendra modi had intervene and stopped it to becoming tourism sites to Sammed Shikharji where 20 of the 24 Jain tirthankaras are believed to have attained salvation.
Sankala also demanded that along with Sammed Shikharji, the sanctity of another holy place of Jain community Paltana Tirtha and Girnar Tirtha in Gujarat should also be declared as a place of pilgrimage, said Sankala who is also National Vice President of Bhairav Bhakta Parivar Sanstha working for the Jain community.
On this occasion, Nitin Agarwal of All India Agarwal Conference, National President of Agarwal Marwari Chamber of Commerce Industries and Education Rajesh Agarwal joined the press conference and expressed their similar views.
Sankala further said, Our Bhairav Bhakta Parivar Sanstha is working with the Jain community all over the country and various social activities are launched through it.
He said that it is demand of the entire Jain community that on the line of Sammed Shikharji decision of central government to stopped it to make tourism, the Palitana temple in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat should be stopped to make tourism and declare it pilgrimage place.
He said that is a conspiracy going on in the country for many years to subjugate Shri Girnar Mahatirtha where anti-social elements are involved in digging areas in the name of development. The Girnar Mahatirtha should also be declared Jain pilgrimage place, he demanded.
Nitin Agarwal who also spoke on occasion said that illegal sale of liquor should ban immediately near Girnar area.
Sankala further said that our delegation will soon meet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an appeal to ban the sale of illegal liquor in Girnar where it going in large scale in the area.
At the same time, attempts are being made to occupy illegally by local gangsters and people of Jain community are being threatened by them, he alleged.
Considering all the three appeal of the Jain community, the government should declared all three places as pilgrimage place and not make it tourism, Sankala demanded.
