Hyderabad: The Jains of Hyderabad has come together to support Lakshmichand Samdariya and Manisha Samdariya, the parents of Aradhana, the 13-year-old Jain girl who died after 68 days of fasting. The Jain Seva Sangh (JSS) said on Monday that it does not believe that Aradhana’s death was due to fasting. They said the girl was not forced to fast by her parents or anyone else.
The JSS also said that if there is a requirement they might provide legal aid to the girl’s parents. On Monday around 200 leaders of Jain committees in the city gathered at the Jain Seva Sangh in Ramkote and discussed the issue.
After the deliberations Jain Seva Sangh President Ashok Sanklecha said, “There was no pressure on the girl to fast. We do not believe the death occurred due to fasting. This was not the first time she has fasted. Last year she fasted for 34 days and the year before that for eight days.”
When asked why there was no medical supervision of the girl during the fast, he said, “She did not show any signs of problems. On every day after 34 days of fasting she said she can continue and she did. She was well till 68 days and on October 2 she broke her fast. Two days after the fast she died and it is just a coincidence.
Aradhana broke her fast on October 2. She was brought dead to KIMS Hospital at 12:28 am on October 4. On why Jains have closed ranks on the issue, Sanklecha said, “Fasting is an integral part of Jainism. After this there have been attacks on our religion. So we want to defend ourselves.”
