Jain community protests razing of wall at temple in Shalimar Bagh

People from the Jain community on Sunday staged demonstration following the razing of a wall inside the premises of a 40-year-old Digambar Jain temple by the Public Works Department (PWD) in Shalimar Bagh.

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The incident, which took place on Saturday, has sparked strong protests from the Jain community, who have accused the authorities of hurting religious sentiments.

According to locals, PWD officials arrived at the site with a full team and heavy machinery, including a JCB bulldozer.

Citing the wall as an illegal construction, the officials initiated demolition work inside the temple complex — a move that the temple authorities and devotees say

was both abrupt and insensitive.

In response, hundreds of members of the Jain community gathered outside the temple and staged a peaceful protest.

Demonstrators demanded that the wall be reconstructed immediately.

Moreover, they also called for the suspension of the officials involved in ordering and executing the demolition.

Community leaders emphasised that the wall was being built within the temple premises for security reasons and accused the administration of failing to consult or notify temple authorities before the action.

“This is not just about a wall; it’s about faith. You cannot bulldoze sentiments,” said one protestor, adding that the Jain community would not tolerate any interference with places of worship.

Shalimar Bagh constituency is represented by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who has previously visited the temple during election campaigns and sought support from the local Jain population.