Book Title: Shatrunjaya Dispute
Author(s): Makanji J Mehta
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference Mumbai

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Page 52
________________ 49 ding the unconscionable claims of the Palitana Chief. The President of the Special Session has called the occasion a unique one,-an occasion of occasions-because this incident has brought a challenge to the entire Jain community, one of the quietest and inost loyal communities in India, either to accept this shocking injustice embodied in Mi. Watson's order, or to exert themselves in definite concrete forms to manifest their resentment, to express their sense of injustice, not merely against the Palitana Princeling, but also against his patrons and abettors, the British Government. Any one who noticed the great gathering in Madhav Bag, or listened to the impassioned speeches that characterised the proceedings, could not but have noticed the warmth of feeling Mr. Watson, in bis ill-judged anxiety to pationise the Palitana Durbar, has aroused in the Jains. The Agent to the Governor-General in the Western India States is not rich in judicial training and temperament. But even he had no right to allow his prejudice against the Jains thoroughly to run away with his sense of propriety and equity in making an award whose every enormity will be its own undoing. Mr. Watson has, of course, offended not merely the Jains. He has insulted the entire Press of India, as the only way to explain his iinpossible order. We are not concerned, however, for the moment at least,

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