Home Ministry has asked states to take measures to prevent such incidents of vandalism.
Here are the latest developments:
BJP #WestBengal condemns barbaric act of vandalising statue of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh Bharat Keshri's founder Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee at Keoratola Mohasoshan, Kolkata. We demand very strong action against culprits: Sayantan Basu, General Secretary, WB BJP pic.twitter.com/3B8UTsA3oI
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
Chennai: DMK workers protest in Saidapet against BJP leader H Raja's comments on #Periyarpic.twitter.com/7dIZY3Qh9E
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
Today, H Raja "expressed regret" for his post and said: "Vandalising Periyar statues unacceptable. Facebook admin had posted that message without my permission. My intention was not to hurt anyone." Two men have been arrested for vandalizing the Periyar statue at a municipal corporation office in Vellore. "One man is a BJP member and another a CPI worker, both drunk," the police said.
The post on my facebook page was done by one of the admins without my permission. As soon as I came to know about it, I deleted the post.We have to respond through statements and opinions not through violence. It is not correct to deface statue of Periyar: H Raja,BJP (file pic) pic.twitter.com/pIF2BzJqhm
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
I have removed that admin who posted the comment about #Periyar and have deleted the post. I totally condemn vandalizing statues and violence. I express heartfelt regret for my Facebook post: H Raja,BJP pic.twitter.com/e8FTPHUFEm
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
PIL filed in Madras High Court by advocate Surya Prakasam in wake of BJP leader H Raja's FB post on Periyar's statue. Court has agreed to hear the case in the afternoon. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/QRubp3Or7U
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
The cycle of vandalism began after two statues of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were demolished in Tripura yesterday, allegedly by workers of the BJP, which ended the 25-year-long rule of the Left in the northeastern state on Saturday. As the Left targeted the BJP over the vandalism, a BJP leader in Tamil Nadu, H Raja, controversially suggested on Facebook that Periyar statues in his state could be next.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed strong condemnation and warned of "stern action" against those responsible. He also spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who has ordered all states to check such incidents. Statues of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin in Tripura, Tamil icon EVR Ramasamy or Periyar in Tamil Nadu and iconic BJP leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee were toppled, defaced, and blackened in acts of vandalism.
(Left to Right: Statue and busts of Vladimir Lenin, EVR Ramasamy or Periyar, and Syama Prasad Mookerjee)
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has ordered states to act sternly to check incidents of statues being toppled, defaced or vandalised.
Police personnel guard a #PeriyarStatue in Coimbatore's. Gandhipuram. A Periyar statue was vandalized in Vellore earlier pic.twitter.com/O4w9thY707
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
Hours after the statue of EVR Ramasamy, better known as Periyar, was vandalised, a molotov cocktail, most likely a petrol bomb, was thrown at a BJP office in Coimbatore by three bikers. No one was hurt.
#WATCH Coimbatore: A petrol bomb was hurled at BJP office earlier today #TamilNadupic.twitter.com/hl3WRO0aB7
- ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
Responding to the outrage over the Lenin statues being razed, BJP leader H Raja declared that Periyar statues in Tamil Nadu could be next. "Who is Lenin and what is the connection between Lenin and India? What connection has India with Communists? Lenin's statue has been removed in Tripura. Today it is Lenin's statue in Tripura, tomorrow it will be the statue of caste fanatic EVR Ramasamy," said the post, which the BJP leader deleted and later disowned after a huge backlash in Tamil Nadu. Today, H Raja "expressed regret" for his post and said: "Vandalising Periyar statues unacceptable. Facebook admin had posted that message without my permission. My intention was not to hurt anyone." Two men have been arrested for vandalizing the Periyar statue at a municipal corporation office in Vellore. "One man is a BJP member and another a CPI worker, both drunk," the police said.
The cycle of vandalism began after statues of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were demolished in Tripura yesterday, allegedly by workers of the BJP, which ended the 25-year-long rule of the Left in the northeastern state on Saturday.
This morning, a bust of BJP icon Syama Prasad Mookerjee was blackened and its features smashed with a hammer in Kolkata. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of the BJP's predecessor Jana Sangh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed strong disapproval after the vandalism of statues in Tripura and Tamil Nadu. PM Modi, according to a government statement, spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has ordered states to act sternly to check such incidents.
