Mumbai: The 90-year-old Parshanath Digambar Jain Temple, located in Villeparle, Mumbai, was disbanded by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) on Wednesday. This led to widespread outrage against the action in the Jain Community across the country. In Mumbai, hundreds of members of the Jain community took to the streets, demonstrating outside the BMC office. Senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha and BJP MLA from Vile Parle, Parag Alwani, joined the Jain community in this protest.
This Jain temple, which has been an important religious site for the local Jain community for several decades, was demolished by the BMC, stating that part of the temple is constructed on reserved land designated for an entertainment park. Based on this assertion, the BMC issued a notice to the temple trust, ordering the removal of the so-called illegal structure. The BMC’s actions are part of a series of notices issued in 2015, 2020, and 2024.
On April 8, 2025, the City Court rejected the temple trust’s petition, and subsequently, on April 15, the High Court also denied their appeal. Following these developments, the BMC proceeded to demolish part of the temple on April 16, 2025. The temple trust and the Jain community have condemned this action as hasty, arguing that their appeal in the High Court was still pending and that the BMC acted without completing the proper legal process.
During the protest, demonstrators expressed their views peacefully while declaring the BMC’s decision as insensitive to the sentiments of the Jain community. They emphasised that the temple is not only a place of worship but also a symbol of community unity. Mangal Prabhat Lodha asserted that it is essential to respect the feelings of the Jain community and called for transparency from the BMC. He stated that they would bring this issue to the government’s attention and strive to protect the temple.
MLA Parag Alwani added that the people of Vile Parle have a deep connection to this temple, and the BMC’s decision could hurt local sentiments. Leaders within the Jain community have also accused the BMC of bias, with some suggesting that a nearby hotel owner may have influenced the situation by bribing for a bar license. However, there has been no official confirmation of this claim.
