On Tuesday, leaders from the Maratha and Jain communities convened at Patrakar Bhavan for a press conference where they expressed their disapproval of the contentious comments made by Jain monks Acharya Nayan Padmasagar and Muni Nileshchandra regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Maharani Tarabai. They made it clear that these statements do not reflect the views of the wider Jain community.

Laxmikant Khabia, a representative of the Jain community, asserted, “No one has the authority to assess the significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” He emphasized the community’s respect for Maharashtra’s historical figures, affirming their dedication to the region and their opposition to any disrespect towards these icons.

Akshay Jain, who leads the Maharashtra State Youth Congress, reiterated the community’s position, stating, “These remarks represent personal opinions; we ask the media to refrain from generalizing terms such as ‘Jain community’ or ‘Jain monks.’”

The controversy ignited on March 31 when Jain monk Acharya Nayan Padmasagar claimed during a Mahavir Jayanti celebration in Mumbai that Maharani Tarabai was part of the Jain community. This was followed by another incident on April 4, where Muni Nileshchandra made a comparison between BJP MLA Nitesh Rane and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which sparked widespread outrage throughout Maharashtra.

Milind Phade from Sakal Jain Samaj remarked that Maharani Tarabai is revered within the Jain community. Representatives confirmed that they have reached out to leaders of the four major Jain sects to address the situation and prevent future occurrences.

Akshay Jain suggested that the timing of these comments could be part of a strategy to disrupt communal harmony and urged the public to remain committed to unity. The conference concluded with a plea for religious leaders to focus on social awareness rather than making inflammatory statements.