Pavagadh: Surendra Patel (Kaka), the Chairman of the trust that administers Pavagadh Mandir, met with a top Jain monk, Padhmasagarsuriji Maharaj, at Koba Jain Tirth and conveyed apologies over the removal of centuries-old statues of Jain Tirthankars from two sides of an old, unused staircase that was once used to reach the temple. The removal of the statues had triggered protests among the Jain community, following which a decision was taken to restore them. The restoration work started the next day, after which the Jain community declared an end to their agitation.

Trustees had meanwhile claimed that since the steps were unused and closed to the public, there were issues of cleanliness and upkeep. Trustee Ashok Pandya also claimed that Jain community leaders who were concerned about these issues were consulted in advance and informed that the trust was ready for the relocation of the statues if the Jain community could take them from the unused steps and place them in a proper location. The unused steps are located next to the compound of a hill-top mandir. People from the top throw coconuts and other items onto the steps, causing littering. Trustees had maintained that their intention was not bad, but the things triggered in another direction. DeshGujarat