Vishnu Shankar Jain is a prominent advocate, widely recognized for his involvement in several high-profile temple-mosque disputes across India. Recently, he gained attention for his role during the first survey of Sambhal’s Jama Masjid, conducted under administrative supervision.
A petition regarding the Sambhal Jama Masjid has been filed in court, with claims by the local Hindu community that the mosque was originally a Shri Harihar Temple. This claim has reignited the temple-mosque debate nationwide. On November 19, Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the petitioners, stated in the Sambhal Civil Court that the mosque was once known as Shri Harihar Temple, allegedly demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529. Furthermore, Jain highlighted that Sambhal is believed to be the birthplace of Kalki, the tenth avatar of Vishnu.
Vishnu Kumar Jain and His Role in the Sambhal Dispute
Jain has been actively involved in the Sambhal mosque controversy. He was present during the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey, as well as with administrative teams during their investigations. Commenting on the recent violence in Sambhal, he asserted that the primary target of the unrest was the survey team itself.
Jain remarked on the communal unrest in Sambhal, stating that the crowd gathered gradually during the ASI-led survey, initially shouting slogans and later turning violent. He credited the administration for handling the situation prudently despite injuries to police personnel. According to Jain, the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy, incited to disrupt the survey.
Background and Legal Career
Born on October 9, 1986, Vishnu Shankar Jain earned his law degree from Balaji Law College in 2010. He began his career by participating in the globally significant Ayodhya Ram Temple case. Jain has played crucial roles in cases concerning Ayodhya, Gyanvapi Mosque, Taj Mahal, and Qutub Minar.
Alongside his father, Harishankar Jain, he is affiliated with organizations promoting Hindutva, such as Hindu Front for Justice, Bhagwa Raksha Vahini, Sanatan Sanstha of Goa, and Hindu Samrajya Party. The father-son duo has been involved in over 110 similar legal cases.
Commentary on Sambhal Violence
Referring to the stone-pelting incident during the Sambhal survey, Jain emphasized that the ASI survey was conducted under court orders. Despite appeals by the administration to maintain peace, including outreach to lawyers representing the Muslim side, violence ensued. Jain described the attack as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the survey process and target the investigative teams.
