Jains protest against Raj HC order making Santhara illegal
Thousands seek safeguard of the Jain way of attaining ‘moksha’
Members of the Jain community took out processions and rallies across the country on Monday to protest against the Rajasthan high court’s decision declaring Santhara — a practice whereby people stop taking food and water till they die — illegal.
The people of the community also want to make the society aware of Santhara/Sallekhana.
A division bench of the Rajasthan HC on August 10 had declared Santhara illegal and punishable under sections 306 and 309 of the IPC equating it with suicide.
I n Jaipur, t housands of people of the Jain community took out a silent march. Many public representatives, along with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Mandir Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Devasthan Mahasabha and other communities extended their support, Dharam Bachao Andolan Samiti officials Rajendra Godha and Vinod Jain said. After 15 days, representatives of Digambar and Shwetambar sects will meet in Jaipur. Based on suggestions from legal experts, action will be taken with regard to judicial process. In Bhilwara, peo- ple marched and handed over a memorandum of protest to the additional collector (city) against the HC’s decision. In Ajmer, the Jain community also held a protest march and submitted a memorandum, addressed to the PM, to the district collector.
In Guwahati, the Sakal Jain Samaj carried out a protest rally and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister via the deputy commissioner, seeking safeguard of the Jain way of attaining ‘moksha’.
The Jain community in Agra carried out a silent protest march to the collectorate. The Jain community members handed over a memorandum addressed to the governor and President, seeking review of the HC order. In Bhopal, a large number of people took out a procession after a public meeting in which Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Malaiya’s wife and BJP leader Sudha Mallaiya, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Kantilal Chatar, BJP state vice-president Vijesh Lunawat attended. Jain saints present there asked Bhopal MP Alok Sanjar, who was present at the meeting, to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha.In Noida, the Jain community held a rally and submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate.