Thousands of members of the Jain community held a silent yet resolute protest in Mumbai on Saturday, 19 April, voicing their deep anguish over the demolition of a 90-year-old Digambar Jain temple in Vile Parle (East).
The march, which began at the demolished temple site and proceeded to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) office in Andheri (East), served as a striking demonstration of unity and sorrow by a community that claims it has been wronged by a hasty and insensitive civic decision.
The temple, situated within the Neminath Cooperative Housing Society, had stood as a place of worship since the 1930s. Earlier this week, BMC officials razed the temple, citing that it was located on land earmarked for a recreational ground.
However, members of the Jain community allege that the demolition was rushed and took place while legal proceedings were still underway.
According to the temple’s managing committee, a city civil court had dismissed their plea against the demolition on 8 April but had orally granted a stay to enable them to file an appeal with the Bombay High Court. Despite this, BMC officials moved forward with the demolition on 16 April.
Trustees allege that civic authorities denied them the opportunity to remove sacred idols and religious texts before proceeding with the demolition. Anil Shah, one of the trustees, recounted that officials ignored their appeals, climbed over idols, and threw holy scriptures onto the street. He described the act not as a mere administrative measure, but as a grave violation of religious sanctity.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among Jains across India, with numerous religious leaders condemning what they describe as the government’s failure to protect religious harmony and dignity.
Protesters have demanded the immediate suspension of ward officer Navnath Ghadge, who supervised the demolition, and called for the temple to be rebuilt at its original site.
Adding to the chorus of condemnation, Rajesh Kumar Sethi, national coordinator of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) minority department, wrote to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging a thorough investigation into the BMC’s actions.
In his letter, Sethi called the demolition “shocking” and “disgraceful,” emphasising that the issue goes beyond the destruction of a building, touching upon matters of faith, sentiment, and public accountability.
On Thursday evening, over 500 Jain community members convened at another temple in Vile Parle to discuss their next steps.
The gathering was marked by impassioned calls for justice and concerns over the broader implications of the incident on religious rights and administrative fairness in Mumbai.
The Bombay High Court, in a separate hearing on illegal constructions, recently criticised the BMC for its inconsistent and often poor enforcement of urban planning rules. Jain leaders argue that religious and historical sites must be handled with greater care, and that any civic action involving them should follow proper legal process and exhibit due sensitivity.
The BMC has not yet released an official statement regarding the demolition or the allegations of disrespect toward religious items. Repeated attempts to contact civic officials for clarification have gone unanswered.
As the protest concluded peacefully, the Jain community reaffirmed its commitment to seek justice through lawful and democratic means. For many, the events of Saturday represented more than a protest — they marked a collective demand for respect, accountability, and the protection of spiritual spaces in a nation that upholds secular values.
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