Mumbai News: BMC Transfers Assistant Commissioner After Massive Jain Protest Over 90-Year-Old Vile Parle Temple Demolition

Mumbai: Three days after the demolition of a 90-year-old Jain temple in Vile Parle, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) transferred the assistant municipal commissioner following heavy backlash from the Jain community. The BMC has also removed the debris from the site to allow the community members to offer prayers at the temple.

In a rare sight, thousands of Jains aggressively flocked the streets of Vile Parle on Saturday to protest against the demolition of 1008 Parshvanath Digambar Jain Temple located in Kambli Wadi of Vile Parle (E).

The Free Press Journal had reported that the temple was demolished by the BMC alleging that it stood on a plot reserved for a recreational ground. However, the temple trust claims that it was built before the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act 1966 was implemented.

On Saturday Sakal Jain Samaaj, a union of all the Jain sub-sects across the country, organised a mega ahimsa rally from the site where the temple stood to BMC’s K/East ward office. While the community demanded that the temple should be rebuilt by BMC at the same place, it also called for a boycott against a local hotelier, who is alleged to have influenced the demolition to start a hotel at the site.

Following the aggressive demonstration by Jains during the day, the BMC in the evening announced the transfer of ward officer Navnath Ghadge, who had ordered the temple’s demolition. The move comes barely 20 days after Ghadge was appointed to the post. Swapnaja Kshirsagar, currently serving as AMC of H/East Ward, has been given the additional charge.

The decision followed after an extensive meeting on Saturday between the civic authority and Jain saints as well as political leaders including Maharashtra’s skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mumbai North-Central MP Varsha Gaikwad, Vile Parle MLA Parag Alavani and Ghatkopar MLA Parag Shah.

Following the meeting, the BMC removed the debris from the site to allow the community members to reinstall the idols and carry out religious rituals. While the protest rally was called off after the meeting, the community has announced that it will not call off the movement until the temple is rebuilt.

Anil Shah, trustee of the temple, said, “The BMC has removed the debris from the site and we have started worshipping the idols again. This was the first step towards rebuilding the temple and we have assured the community that the temple would be rebuilt at the same place.”

Political War Over Temple Demolition

The demolition of the temple has also sparked a political debate between Congress which alleged that the Mahayuti government is responsible for the demolition while the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that it is in support of the Jain community.

Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad said that the demolition was a pre-planned conspiracy and alleged the “bulldozer government” of the Mahayuti alliance to be responsible for it. On the other hand, MLA Parag Shah said that Bharatiya Janata Party will help the Jain community in every aspect.

Christian Activists Demand FIR Against BMC Officials

Activists from the Christian community have condemned the demolition of the Jain temple alleging that the BMC’s action smacks of utter insensitivity, arbitrariness and a gross abuse of power. Nicholas Almeida, Godfrey Pimenta, Vivian D’Souza and Rita D’Sa of the Watchdog Foundation wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday and demanded that the civic officials should be booked for trespassing and hurting religious sentiments. They have also demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the demolition and the restoration fo the temple.

Nationwide Jain Ekta Rally On April 24

While the Jain community in Mumbai showed its strength on Saturday through the mega ahimsa rally, All India Jain Minority Federation has called for nationwide a unity rally on April 24. The rally aims to mark a protest against the recent untoward incidents in the community, including Vile Parle temple’s demolition. Jain communities in every city and town is expected to hold unity rallies to condemn the recent attacks against the community.