Pune, April 22, 2025 — Thousands of members from the Jain community gathered outside the district collector’s office in Pune on Tuesday to protest the demolition of a 90-year-old Jain temple in Mumbai. The protest, organized by the Sakal Jain Sangh, was a direct response to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s demolition of the Digambar Jain Temple in Vile Parle on April 16.
The protest lasted for two hours, during which demonstrators raised slogans condemning the BMC’s actions and the administration. The rally saw participation from a large number of students, women, and youth from the Jain community.
Achal Jain, one of the protesters, expressed the emotional toll the incident had on the community. “When places of faith are attacked, it deeply hurts the sentiments of people. Demolishing a temple is not just a religious matter; it is an insult to human emotions. We will fight this battle peacefully but firmly,” Jain said.
Milind Phade, another protester, emphasized the peaceful nature of the community and the gravity of the situation. “Through this protest, the Jain community has sent a clear message to the authorities that the insult of religious places will not be tolerated. When a community that walks the path of peace and non-violence steps onto the streets, it reflects deep pain and outrage,” Phade remarked.
Former corporator Abhay Chhajed highlighted that the issue went beyond Mumbai, underscoring similar incidents in places like Palitana, Gujarat, and Shikharji. “The Jain community is peace-loving. For us to come onto the streets is a rare occurrence. But today’s protest was planned because this issue is not limited to Mumbai alone. Such incidents have taken place in Palitana, Shikharji, and other temples as well. I have served as a corporator for 25 years, and I know how the administration functions. This matter is extremely serious and must be addressed with due seriousness,” Chhajed said.
Advocate Yogesh Pande expressed his outrage over the manner in which the temple was demolished, describing the event as an act of “brutality.” “The statue of our Tirthankara was shattered into pieces, which to us is unacceptable. This is a very serious situation and raises questions about how the BMC authorities were allowed to act in such a disrespectful way. People were still offering prayers inside the temple when the demolition began. How can this be tolerated? This is a clear abuse of power,” Pande stated.
The protest in Pune reflects widespread discontent within the Jain community, with many questioning the motives behind the demolition and calling for justice and accountability from the authorities.
