Who is YouTuber Suraj Singh Pharswan insulted Jain Sadhus in Chamoli?

A YouTuber from Uttarakhand is in legal trouble after a video surfaced of him allegedly mocking and behaving indecently towards Digambar Jain monks who practice nude worship. The incident has sparked outrage among the Jain community, leading to swift action from the authorities.

Who is YouTuber Suraj Singh Pharswan?

Suraj Singh Parshwan, a YouTuber from Uttarakhand, India, shares personal vlogs, motovlogs, and showcases Uttarakhand, often dubbed "God's Heaven State." His channel aims to cover India's rich history and historical places.

In a recent video, Parshwan questions and objects to Digambar Jain monks walking around without clothes in Chamoli district's Tota Valley. His actions have been deemed insensitive and disrespectful towards the Digambar sect's tradition of nudity as renunciation.

The video went viral on social media. This prompted the Yojana Group to file a complaint with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar, and other officials. The authorities took cognizance of the matter, and the Uttarakhand Police directed the Chamoli Police to take legal action against Parshwan.

Case registered against Suraj Singh Pharswan

On May 27th, the Devprayag police station registered a case against Suraj Singh Parshwan under Sections 153A, 295A, and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated on social media that a video of misbehavior with Jain monks was circulating online. He directed the Uttarakhand Director General of Police to investigate and take action.

Uttarakhand Police confirmed the case against Parshwan, stating they had taken cognizance of the video showing a youth behaving indecently with Digambar saints.

Amid controversy, Parshwan released an apology video, admitting his mistake and expressing regret for offending the Jain community. He said he intended to gain knowledge, but his method was wrong, and pledged not to repeat such actions.

The incident sparked debates about respecting religious traditions. The Jain community welcomed the prompt action by the authorities, hoping it will deter insensitivity towards their beliefs.

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