Won’t hurt Parasnath sanctity: Minister

To allay the fears of the Jain community, Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday he is willing to offer a personal guarantee that the government will do nothing that hurts the sentiments of the Jain community, or destroys the sanctity and purity of the place of worship. “As cabinet and tourism minister, I want to give a guarantee that no step will be taken to hurt the sentiments of the Jain community,” Reddy said.

Shortly after his announcement, Reddy shared a copy of the environment ministry’s order directing the Jharkhand government to stop, forthwith, all tourism and and eco-tourism related activities in the eco-sensitive zone and the buffer zone within which the Shri Sammed Shikarji temple exists. The government also sought strict implementation of a ban on the sale of liquor, meat or any other intoxicant in areas surrounding the temple.

The environment ministry’s order follows Reddy’s own letter to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, sensitising him to the issue. In addition, the tourism minister’s office has also spoken to Jharkhand chief secretary to ensure that the state takes no steps to carry out any development activity around the hill temple that may alter its present state.

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