04-08-2025
Jain leaders to meet on Aug. 10 to condemn attack on their history, culture under the cover of Dharmasthala issue
Jain monk Sri Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj of Navagraha Teertha at Varur near Hubballi has said that a meeting of Jain leaders from across the State will be held at Varur on August 10 to condemn the continued attack on the history and culture of Jainism in the social media.
Addressing presspersons at Varur on Monday, Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj said that keeping the developments in Dharmasthala as a cover, several miscreants have resorted to making unwarranted comments on Jain rulers and trying to project them in bad light by calling them names and accusing them of exploiting women which is highly condemnable.
He said that Jain rulers, scholars and artistes have contributed a great deal to the history and culture of the nation which has been well documented by many.
He said that there is not a single instance of atrocities attributed to Jain rulers found in the inscriptions related to Jain history.
'Despite such being the case, this defamation campaign against the community has pained us all. We want the State government to act against those engaged in the defamation campaign in the social media,' he said.
The Jain monk said that a taluk-level meeting of Jain leaders will be held at Varur on Tuesday and a State-level meeting on August 10. He further clarified that as he has undertaken the Chaturmas Vrat, he will not be directly participating in the meetings.
He said that he welcomes the ongoing SIT probe into the alleged killings in Dharmasthala as it will help in bringing out the truth. 'We have full confidence in the SIT and our State government. We want the probe to be completed at the earliest to bring out the truth. We hope that the investigation does not get delayed,' he said.
