ABVP insults Jain Goddesss Shruti Devi’s idol in UP’s Baghpat, Jain community furious

In a shocking development, members of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) created ruckus over the installation of a temple dedicated to Shruti devi, a Jain goddess, at Digambar Jain College in Baraut, Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh. The protesters allegedly demanded that the idol be replaced by goddess Saraswati. Three people have been arrested so far.

The protests by ABVP activists on Tuesday demanding the removal of the idol of Shruti Devi installed at Digambar Jain Degree College has created a major controversy and infuriated the Jain community.

After this incident, Baghpat police have registered a case against the activists of ABVP. Jain community leader Gaurav Jain has strongly criticized it and has demanded NSA on the accused.

It is important to mention that on Tuesday, there was a protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members, calling that the installation of the idol in Digambar Jain College in Barot Nagar as controversial. The college gate was locked and they gave a 7-day ultimatum to the managing committee and demanded the statue be removed.

After this incident, there was anger among the people of Jain community. On Tuesday, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists created a ruckus in the college campus demanding the removal of the idol installed in 2016 by the college management at Digambar Jain College. Along with locking the main gate of the college, they insulted the statue by walking on the idol with their shoes and slippers on

During this time, the ABVP activists also had scuffle with the police and college staff who reached the college when they came to know about the ruckus. The college staff was locked inside due to the lock on the gate.

College Principal Dr. Virendra Singh said that in the year 2016, the idol was installed in the college, which is of Shruti Devi, the symbol of Jainism. According to the college administration, in 2016, the statue was installed during the centenary year celebrations of the college. In the complaint letter given by the college, the college principal Dr. Virendra Singh has accused ABVP district convenor Ankur Chaudhary, Patil Tomar, Happy Sharma who are not even college students, for spreading chaos in the college campus and insulting the idlo of Shrut Devi. He also accused ABVP of trying to vandalise the college, break the lock, of taking students and college staff hostage, etc. Baghpat police tweeted that investigations are being carried out on the basis of the complaint.

Later, the Jain community in the area held a meeting and gave memorandum to local administration in UP's Baghpat demanding strict action against the accused.

The meeting was held at Digambar Jain Bal Sadan on Wednesday. A resolution to take strong action against ABVP workers was passed in the meeting. After this, the people of Jain society reached Digambar Jain Degree College shouting slogans and submitted a memorandum to DK Jain, Joint Secretary, College Management Committee in which they have demanded strict action against the accused in the incident.

In many places in western Uttar Pradesh, Jain society has expressed anger over this incident. Apart from Baghpat, particularly Hastinapur, Khatauli, Vahlna and Saharanpur have seen the most outrage.