HUBLI
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met Jain seer Gunadhara Nandi Maharaj of Navagraha Thirtha Kshetra, Varur and condoled the death of Jain seer Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj of Chikkodi.
Later speaking to media persons, Joshi said the killing of Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj is condemnable. They gave him an electric shock, cut off his hands and put them in a borewell. This is a brutal murder of a saint. Jain monks walk barefoot and renounce everything. It is a heinous act to have killed them like this. Even then he was missing, the state government had not taken it seriously. When Jains protested, then it took it seriously, he added.
Joshi said that there is information that the seer gave money to the accused to build a building. The government is trying to take a statement that they are doing business. This is not a good thing for the government. It has released the name of the accused after MLA Abhay Patil decided to protest. We will bring it to the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The state government should fulfil demand of Gunadhara Nandi Maharaj. It should hand over the case to CBI, he said.
Gunadhara Nandi Maharaj said it was painful that a Jain muni was tortured and killed. Even if such an incident happened, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not take it seriously. The act came to light with the help of the media. Now we are getting a response from the government and elected representatives. The Home Minister has assured of action, he said. Maharaj added that Jain sages go on padayatra across country and there is a demand to provide adequate protection to such sages.
