Thousands of people from the Jain community have taken to the streets across Maharashtra over the past few days to protest against the alleged sale of a land worth Rs 300 crore belonging to the historic Seth Hirachand Nemchand Smarak Trust (SHNT) in Pune to a developer.

The Jain agitation marks the latest confrontation between the community and the ruling BJP , its traditional ally, in a series of rows through the year – from the demolition of an old temple and a crackdown on pigeon-feeding to a court-ordered relocation of a temple elephant.

The controversial Pune land deal has escalated tensions between them, especially after allegations have been levelled now against Pune’s BJP MP and Union Minister, Murlidhar Mohol, for his association with the private builder who purchased the tr

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