Probe ordered after 2 Ambedkar statues vandalized in 24 hours
Two statues of BR Ambedkar were vandalized in Uttar Pradesh in 24 hours. State CM Yogi Adityanath has asked district magistrates to ensure the security of statues. Statues of Ambedkar were razed in Allahabad's Jhunsi area and Siddharthnagar's Gohaniya. Locals of Gohaniya staged a protest demanding strict action against culprits, who are yet to be identified.
Locals stage protest after statues vandalized, demand strict action
Authorities promise swift action, Opposition says it was deliberate
After the Allahabad incident, Additional SP said FIR has been lodged against unknown persons under Sections 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intending to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 427 (mischief causing damage). BSP leader RK Gautam said the authorities should replace the statue. He added it's been fifteen years since the statue was set, and it has been vandalized four times.
SP leader demands bigger statue of Ambedkar to be installed
Speaking of the Allahabad incident, SP leader Nagender Patel said, "We have asked the district administration to install a big statue here and they have promised to do so. We asked them to establish a police chowki here as well."
Politics of statues: Vandalization continues despite Home Ministry directive
It all started when Tripura BJP leaders destroyed a statue of Lenin after the party won elections in the North-Eastern state. Following this, there were many such incidents reported from across the nation. In UP alone, Ambedkar statues were vandalized in Meerut and Aligarh, earlier this month. The Home Ministry had asked states to deal with such incidents in a strict manner.
