BMC Shifts Official Amid Uproar Over Jain Temple Demolition in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) transferred an assistant municipal commissioner on Saturday following intense backlash over the demolition of a Jain temple in the Vile Parle area, which ignited protests from the Jain community.

Earlier in the day, members of the Jain community organized a protest march to express their outrage over the civic body’s actions. Anil Shah, a temple trustee, voiced the community’s distress, asserting that the demolition occurred without allowing trustees adequate time to respond. He called for the suspension of the officer responsible.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and city MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticized the BMC, alleging that the Chief Minister’s Office and the Urban Development Minister’s Office directly control the civic body, implying their involvement in the decision. Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad, who joined the protest, condemned the BMC for acting hastily without awaiting a court ruling. She further claimed that the demolition process disrespected Jain Tirthankar idols and religious texts, accusing the BJP-allied “bulldozer government” of orchestrating a conspiracy.

The controversy stems from the BMC’s demolition of the temple, which the civic body deemed unauthorized, prompting widespread condemnation from community members and political figures alike