A wave of unrest swept across Vile Parle and Andheri East on Saturday morning as hundreds from the Jain community staged a massive protest against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for demolishing a decades-old Digambar Jain temple. The structure, located inside the Neminath Cooperative Housing Society in Kambliwadi, was brought down on April 16, sparking outrage and allegations of religious insensitivity by civic authorities. The temple, often referred to as a ‘Chaitalaya’, was more than just a structure—it was a spiritual cornerstone for the local Jain community, dating back to the 1960s.
Protestors, joined by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, marched from Vile Parle to the BMC’s K/East ward office in Andheri East, demanding immediate action against those responsible. Their key demand is the suspension of Vanath Ghadge, the ward officer allegedly in charge of the operation, and other officials involved. The community has also called upon Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and hold the civic staff accountable for what they described as a blatant act of disrespect towards a religious site.
Anil Shah, trustee of the temple, stated that the demolition was carried out without due consideration for religious sentiments and legal procedures. He claimed that the temple had undergone renovation in the past with BMC’s approval and cited a Government Resolution that allows such religious structures to be regularized upon submission of a proposal—a proposal that, he insists, was already submitted. What has deeply hurt the community is the manner in which the demolition was carried out. Shah alleges that municipal staff ignored requests to safely remove religious books and idols before the operation and instead threw them on the road, damaging several sacred items in the process.
These accusations have fueled speculation that the demolition may have been influenced by a local hotelier seeking access to the land. Though BMC maintains that the demolition was backed by a court order, the community argues that the timing and execution lacked sensitivity, transparency, and legal clarity. Religious leaders reportedly pleaded with officials to allow time for the removal of sacred items, but their requests were allegedly brushed aside.
Amid growing public outrage, the Bombay High Court has stepped in and issued a temporary stay on further demolition actions at the site until a scheduled afternoon hearing. While this provides some respite to the protesting community, the damage already done—both structurally and emotionally—remains a point of contention. The Jain community is not only demanding reconstruction of the temple at the same location but is also calling for wider reforms in how civic bodies handle religious properties.
“This isn’t just about one temple. If this can happen here, it can happen to any religious structure in Mumbai,” said one protestor during the march. Others echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the protest is as much about protecting religious rights as it is about seeking justice for what they believe was a violation of their faith.
As the court prepares to hear the matter, the Jain community remains steadfast in its demands: rebuild the temple, suspend the officials, and implement stricter guidelines for religious structure demolitions. The outcome of this protest and the court hearing could set a precedent for how future conflicts between civic administration and religious communities are resolved in Mumbai and beyond.
Stay tuned to ibizznews for further updates.
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