Maharashtra— On an ordinary morning in a residential society in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, a fresh layer of white paint was applied to a common pathway. To the casual observer, it looked like routine maintenance. To the Jain residents who arranged it, it was an act of religious devotion. But to Prasad Vedpathak, a social media influencer with an eye for engagement, it was marketing ammo.
Taking to his X handle (formerly known as Twitter), Vedpathak made an accusation:
“I’m a victim of Jain Jihad. Such white lines were drawn with a permanent oil paint in society common area without consent... This is some religious practice forced on us by altering common space.”
The phrase ‘Jain Jihad’ instantly turned a small neighborhood argument over shared space into a major conflict. This explosive phrasing ignored all nuance and went viral online. As a result, it quickly turned a centuries-old tradition of non-violence into a digital battle.
To see how ridiculous this controversy is, you have to look past the internet drama and understand the basic beliefs of Jainism.
Jain monks live by a strict vow of total non-violence. They only travel on foot and walk barefoot. During the hot summer months, concrete and asphalt roads get extremely hot. The white coating on the ground is just a practical act of kindness to keep the pathways cool enough for their bare feet.
When the rainy season starts, the white paint serves an even deeper spiritual purpose. Rain makes slippery green algae grow on concrete. To Jains, this algae is a living community of microscopic organisms. Because monks promise to cause zero harm, stepping on the algae would break their sacred vows. The white paint stops the algae from growing, which gives the monks a safe path to walk without killing tiny organisms.
What Prasad claimed was a sneaky, aggressive takeover of public land was actually just a simple adjustment to help monks live a lifestyle of absolute compassion.
As the video of an influencer explaining these basic beliefs of Jainism gained traction, members of the Jain community and secular observers alike flooded Vedpathak’s comments, patiently explaining the theological and practical reasons behind the white lines.
The explanations were ignored. Instead, the narrative was aggressively pushed toward identity politics, framing the issue as an invasion by a powerful minority against "ordinary Maharashtrians."
The controversy soon attracted more attention. Activist Teesta Setalvad also joined the debate. Surprisingly, she called Jains—who make up just 0.4% of India’s population—powerful rulers acting against the people of Mumbai. The irony was clear. Activists who usually demand protection for minorities did the exact opposite here. They attacked a tiny, peaceful minority over temporary white paint on a sidewalk.
Eventually, the path was painted over. The influencer, Vedpathak, claimed victory and changed his tone. He even said he always admired Jainism’s compassion. But the damage was already done. He got his online views, and the standard pattern of internet outrage worked perfectly.
However, things were about to take a nasty turn for Vedpathak. As the online anger grew, the conflict moved from social media into the real world. Pravin Chheda, a local leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stepped in to support the Jain community.
Chheda and several members of the Jain community met with a senior police officer, Deputy Commissioner Ganesh Shinde. They submitted an official complaint and demanded that the police register a criminal case against Vedpathak for deliberately hurting religious sentiments.
In a public message, Chheda explained that these white stripes are a common, peaceful tradition. He pointed out that many Hindu temples also paint pathways white so that devotees do not burn their feet during the hot summer. He also reminded everyone that Jainism is not just followed by a few specific communities, but is deeply respected by Marathi-speakers and the Sikh community as well. Following the massive backlash and the police complaint, Vedpathak's Instagram account was suspended.
This was not just a simple neighborhood argument. It is part of a regular pattern. Looking at Vedpathak’s past online posts shows he often targets Jain traditions under the guise of logical criticism.
In April 2025, Vedpathak attacked the famous Ranakpur Jain Temple. He was angry because visitors had to remove leather belts and wallets before entering. Jains do this out of respect to avoid animal slaughter. He also used traditional Jain rules about menstruation to make internet feminists angry.
At the same time, Vedpathak claims to protect Hindu interests, but his past posts show otherwise. He has mocked Hindu idol worship online. He also posted about wanting “beef and bacon burgers,” which breaks sacred Hindu dietary rules.
However, his aggressive attitude disappears when there is actual danger. After the April 2025 terror attacks in Pahalgam—where terrorists targeted and killed Hindu tourists—Vedpathak stayed quiet. Instead of condemning the attack, he told people not to talk about the victims' religion. He called a targeted terror attack a simple "government failure."
The contrast is clear: real violence is treated with gentle excuses, but a cool path for barefoot monks is called a "Jihad."
The story of this white pathway is a perfect example of how the internet works today. Online, deep understanding is ignored, and anger is used to make money.
An influencer took a tiny neighborhood disagreement, used explosive religious language, and ignored the facts. By doing this, he successfully gained days of high internet traffic. The facts about Jain beliefs never mattered. The peace of the neighborhood never mattered. The only thing that mattered was the internet algorithm.
The white paint is gone from the Mumbai pavement, but the blueprint of the controversy remains. It is a clear reminder that in a world driven by clicks, peace and understanding are constantly under attack by people who only care about online views.
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