There are between four and five million Jains worldwide. Most reside in India.

“Now, Jains seek right to worship in disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex,” PTI, July 1, 2024:

Indore: A social activist has filed a writ petition in the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court, seeking the “right to worship” for his Jain community members in the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar.

The petition has claimed this complex once used to be a Jain Gurukul and a Jain temple where an idol of Goddess Ambika was installed.

The HC is likely to hear this week the petition filed on June 29 by Delhi-based social activist Salek Chand Jain, his lawyer Manohar Singh Chauhan said Monday.

The plea has been moved at a time when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to present a report on its survey of the 11-century Bhojshala complex in the HC following the court order.

The site is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims, leading to a dispute about its nature.

The HC on March 11 directed the ASI to carry out a ‘scientific survey’ of the Bhojshala complex, a medieval-era monument, on a petition by an organisation named ‘Hindu Front for Justice’.

While Hindus believe the monument is a temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), the Muslim community calls it Kamal Maula Mosque.

The activist’s petition claimed there used to be a Jain Gurukul and Jain temple in the Bhojshala complex where monks from the community and scholars taught students….