Activists stop Jain procession in Vadodara over inclusion of elephant, call it violation of 2007 order

Raj Bhavsar of the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), along with a team of volunteers, stalled the procession carried out by the Jain community. He also sought action for “violation” of the police prohibitory orders as well as “lack of compliance” of the permission given by the forest department to the organisers that necessitates the presence of a veterinary doctor at the event.

Bhavsar said, “The organisers have brought the elephant from Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad as per permission received from the Additional Chief Conservator of Forest, Gujarat, to transport the animal to Vadodara from Ahmedabad. However, the organisers have not complied with the provision of having a veterinary doctor accompanying the procession, which is mandatory in order to ensure that the animal can be tranquilised immediately in case of any untoward incident where she loses control.”

Bhavsar added, “Moreover, as per the police prohibitory orders in Vadodara since 2007, elephants are allowed to participate in religious processions, including the Jagannath Yatra, and today’s incident is a gross violation of the prohibitory order.”

The organisers of the procession had been granted permission from the Additional Chief Conservator of Forests in Gujarat to procure a female elephant called Roopkali, belonging to the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, for two days of procession on February 21 and 22. The procession was taken out to mark the Anjan Shalaka — a traditional Jain ceremony for consecration of a new Jain temple — at R V Desai road in the city.

The procession was a part of the nine-day event organised by the Shri Sanchori Jain Shwetambar Murtipujak Sangh Vadodara. The event involves the worship of Lord Kunthunath, the 17th Tirthankar of Jainism.

Paresh Parikh, an organiser of the event told The Indian Express, “It is unfortunate that despite seeking necessary permission, some people are trying to create a nuisance in our religious event that is being held after several decades in Vadodara. We have sought the necessary permissions for two days, including the police permission for the procession.”

Parikh added, “The permission to take along the elephant in the procession has been granted by the Forest department. Since the activists are raising questions about the veterinary doctor, we are also arranging one. But there is no reason why we should not go ahead with our procession. It is a matter of sentiment that we want to have an elephant for our Shobha Yatra.”

The permission granted by the Additional CCF states that the elephant will be taken along the route of the Shri Shri Sanchori Jain Shwetambar Murtipujak Sangh Vadodara to the Derasar and will pass through the city market, Nyaymandir, Mandvi, Chokhandi and return to the Derasar. However, it also necessitates the presence of a veterinary doctor.

Police Inspector H L Ahir of the Navapura police station, who had intervened as the arguments between the organisers and the animal activists escalated, said, “We have advised the organisers to keep the elephant in the tent for today (Wednesday). The permissions pertaining to the animal can only be granted by the forest department.”

Ahir added, “Officials of the Forest department had also arrived at the spot and told the organisers to refrain from taking out the elephant until a veterinary doctor is arranged. Regarding the 2007 notification of the Vadodara city police that the activists are citing, we are looking into the details. At the moment, there is no law and order issue. We have not detained the animal as it is the matter of the Forest department.”