Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain Mutt has appealed to the union government to develop Shravanabelgola, a noted pilgrimage centre, on the lines of Taj Mahal in Agra.
The seer placed this demand before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Sunday.
The monolithic statue of Gomateshwara is as significant as Taj Mahal in Agra. “However, this place is not as developed as Taj Mahal. Shravanabelagola should be treated as one of the national iconic places,” he said. The Maha Mastakabhisheka Organising Committee also submitted a memorandum in this regard.
Vardhamana Sagar Maharaj, noted Jain monk, appealed to the Union Minister to declare Shravanabelgola a “Ahimsa Kshetra”, as did a section of devotees who had gathered there. Mr. Singh, however, said that that did not come under the purview of his ministry.
