Centre stays tourism activities in Parasnath Hills, ends Jain shrine debate

The raging debate over whether Shri Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand should be designated as an eco-tourism spot or not ended on Thursday with the Centre halting all such activities in the Parasnath Hills, where it is located. The Jain community called off its protest after the decision.

It also told the state government to take strict action against consumption of liquor or “defiling of sites of religious and cultural significance” or damage to the ecology, putting an end to the worries of the Jain community. They feared that designating Shri Sammed Shikharji as an eco-tourism destination would lead to the consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food by visitors, hurting their religious sentiments.

Sammed Shikhar lies in the eco-sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Soren’s letter to Centre

Earlier on Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to the Centre, seeking “appropriate decisions” on its 2019 notification. According to state tourism secretary Manoj Kumar, the state government, in the 2019 notification, designated 200 locations, including Shri Sammed Shikharji, as a tourist destination for “administrative convenience”.

Watch: Jain community protests after Shri Sammed Shikharji declared tourist spot

Soren also wrote in the letter that the state’s 2021 tourism policy, which is also being opposed by the Jain community, is to form a management board to better manage the shrine. It will be led by the tourism secretary, have six non-government members from the Jain community, he wrote.

Within two hours, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav issued a memo, asking the state to stop ecologically harmful activities at once. Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, too, said nothing would be done to hurt “anyone’s religious feelings.”

The Centre’s memo also said at least two members of the management board must be from the Jain community.

Tourism secretary justifies tag

Earlier in the day, the state tourism secretary justified the state government’s move, saying it would lead to the area’s development. He said the state government was also ready to amend the notification and include Jain religious place for Shri Sammed Shikharji.

Shri Sammed Shikharji in Parasnath Hills, some 160 km from Ranchi, is among the holiest places of the Jains, for both Digambar and Shwetambar sects. As many as 20 of the 24 Jain tirthankaras attained moksha (salvation) in this location. Parasnath Hills in Giridih district is also known for being home to the highest peak in Jharkhand.

The Jain community, however, was not convinced. “The government’s proposal to include Jain religious place in the notification is just eyewash. We are a minority community that contributes significantly to the economy. We demand that the notification be scrapped,” Padam Kumar Chhabra, a Jain community leader in Ranchi, told PTI.

Monk’s death

Jain community members marched to Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Tuesday, demanding the withdrawal of the 2019 notification. Asked why the community did not protest when the notification was issued in 2019, the agitators claimed they came to know about it only recently.

A 72-year-old Jain monk, who was on a fast against the Jharkhand government’s decision, died in Jaipur on January 3. Sugyeysagar Maharaj had not eaten anything since December 25.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has spoken to Soren over the issue. Incidentally, the notification was issued by the BJP government before the Soren administration came to power.

(With agency inputs)