Jain Monk Dies While Protesting to save Sanctity of Sammed Shikhar

Jaipur: Another Jain monk named Samarth Sagar, who was fasting to protest against the Jharkhand government’s decision to declare the jail religious center Sammed Shikhar as a tourist place, passed away on Thursday night. It is the second death of a protesting Jain monk in four days.

He had started an indefinite fast at the Sanghiji temple in Sanganer in Rajasthan’s Jaipur. Another Jain monk Sugyeysagar Maharaj had also passed away at the Sanghiji temple during his fast to save Sammed Shikhar.

Rajasthan’s Jain Sabha president Subhash Jain said the monk gave away his life while fasting in protest against the Jharkhand government’s decision.

Sammed Shikharji is a major Jain pilgrimage center in the Parasnath Hills of Jharkhand. Recently Jharkhand government has taken the decision to transform it into a tourist destination. Jain community is opposed to it. They feel by the promotion of Sammed Shikhar as a tourist spot will destroy its religious sanctity and sacredness.

On Thursday, Central Government stayed all tourism activities in the Parasnath Hill region and also directed the Jharkhand government to take immediate measures to protect the sanctity of Sammed Shikharji.