Jain seer meets Karnataka home minister

Gunadhar Nandhi Maharaj Jain Muni at Navgrah Tirth on Monday announced his withdrawal of his “fast unto death” after meeting Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara following the murder of Jain monk Acharya Sri Kamakumara Nandi Maharaja of Chikkodi two days earlier. He said that the home minister agreed to all their demands, including constituting a Jain Development Board.
Following the murder, Gunadhar Nandhi Maharaj said that he would undertake a fast unto death, demanding security for Jain Munis. The last rites of the Jain seer were performed as per Jain traditions on Sunday at Hirekodi village. Home Minister G Parmeshwar assured Gunadhar Nandhi Maharaj and said the government is working for the interests of the Jain community. They said that the minister told him that an investigation was underway into the matter.
Police recovered body parts of the Digambar seer from a defunct borewell in a field in Chikkodi in Belagavi district on Saturday (July 8). The monk was reported missing by the manager of the ashram where he used to stay, and two people have been arrested in this connection.
The Union Minister had on Sunday met with Gunadhar Nandhi Maharaj Jain Muni at Navgrah Tirth and condoled the death of the Chikkodi Jain seer. On Monday, G. Parameshwara said there is no need for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the murder case. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has termed the murder “highly condemnable.”