Jain Jihad remark row: BJP corporator seeks police case against Prasad Vedpathak

BJP corporator Pravin Chheda has sought registration of a police case against social media influencer Prasad Vedpathak, alleging his comments hurt religious sentiments. The dispute followed Vedpathak’s criticism of white road markings painted for the safety of barefoot Jain monks. Chheda submitted a complaint to Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Shinde.

Local BJP corporator Pravin Chheda on Friday asked police to file a case against social media influencer and YouTuber Prasad Vedpathak. Chheda alleged Vedpathak hurt religious sentiments. The dispute began after Vedpathak criticised white road markings in a residential society. The markings were painted for Jain monks, and the row later spread online.

Chheda said Chheda and members of the Jain community met Deputy Commissioner of Police East Region-2 Ganesh Shinde. Chheda said the group submitted a written complaint. The complaint sought legal action against Vedpathak. Vedpathak’s Instagram account was later suspended, amid the continuing controversy over the remarks.

Jain Jihad row and police complaint against Prasad Vedpathak

The issue surfaced earlier when Vedpathak objected to the white stripes meant for Jain monks. Chheda alleged Vedpathak used the term Jain Jihad. Chheda said this led to anger among many community members. Chheda also said the influencer presented the road markings in a misleading way, even though they were meant for safety.

In a Facebook post, Chheda said the paint was intended to protect Jain monks. Chheda said Jain monks often walk barefoot on roads. Chheda argued the stripes reduced risk during regular movement in the area. Chheda accused Vedpathak of turning a safety step into a community dispute through social media commentary.

Jain Jihad debate and comparisons with Hindu temple markings

Chheda said similar markings are used in other religious places too. Chheda said some Hindu temples paint white pathways for devotees. Chheda said the stripes help stop feet from burning in severe summer heat. Chheda used this example to argue that such markings are practical and not a territorial claim.

Chheda also spoke about who follows Jain practices. Chheda said Jainism is not limited to Gujaratis and Marwaris. Chheda said Marathi-speaking followers of Jainism also exist. Chheda added that members of the Sikh community respect and follow Jain traditions, and should not be drawn into online hostility.

Prasad Vedpathak response on X amid Jain Jihad controversy

Vedpathak could not be immediately reached for comment. However, in a post on X on Thursday, he wrote that religious territory marking could become dangerous to unity and harmony because it transforms shared spaces into symbols of group identity rather than places that belong equally to everyone.Unity is strengthened when people share spaces as equals. It is weakened when symbols suggest that certain spaces belong more to one group than to another, he wrote.

The complaint submitted to police kept the focus on alleged harm to religious sentiments. Chheda maintained the markings were safety-related, and not aimed at exclusion. Vedpathak’s X post set out concerns about shared public spaces. Police action, if any, was not detailed in the statements described.

With inputs from PTI