Jain Group Demands PM Investigate Maneka Gandhi Peacock Feather Claims

On Tuesday, June 30, a major controversy erupted in Mumbai as a Jain organization submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, demanding a high-level investigation into recent remarks made by former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi. The dispute arose after Gandhi, a prominent animal rights activist, claimed that the legal exemption on peacock feathers—which are used to make sacred fly-whisks for Jain ascetics—is being misused to hunt and kill peacocks on a large scale.

The Vishva Jain Sangathan, the group behind the memorandum, expressed deep distress within the Jain community over Gandhi's statements. The organization demanded that any scientific, government, or reliable evidence supporting her claims of bird slaughter be made public. The group stated that if no such evidence exists, an impartial and high-level inquiry must be initiated, and they will seek legal action.

The organization clarified that the core tenet of Jainism is "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma," meaning non-violence is the highest religion. According to Jain tradition, the sacred fly-whisk, known as a pichhika, is crafted strictly from naturally shed peacock feathers.

Manish Modi, a Jain scholar-practitioner, described the criticism against the community as selective. Modi argued that the figures of birds killed are contrived and pointed out that animals are killed daily for food and other religious practices. He noted that there are fewer than 1,800 Jain monks and nuns, questioning how they could be held responsible for the carnage of so many birds.

Meanwhile, Gandhi defended her remarks, stating that the exemption under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 has allowed a commercial industry to thrive. She recalled that when the Act was passed, pressure from sections of the Jain community prevented a total ban on peacock feathers. Gandhi argued that it is impossible for peacocks to naturally shed enough feathers to supply the hundreds of shops selling them.