Now, B R Ambedkar's statue vandalised in UP's Meerut

NEW DELHI: Miscreants have now targeted a statue of Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, the latest in a series of attacks on statues of political and ideological figures across the country.

Members of the Dalit community held protests and blocked traffic in Mawana, Meerut after Ambedkar's statue was vandalised by unidentified persons on Tuesday night. The agitators called off the protest after district administration assured them that a new statue of Ambedkar would soon be installed.



The incident came to light hours after the Home Ministry sent an advisory to all states and Union territories to take strong action against anyone involved in the destruction of statues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his strong disapproval of statues being vandalised in parts of the country.

Two statues of Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were brought down in Tripura following the BJP's emphatic win in the state over the Left, which was in power for more than 25 years.

On Tuesday, a statue of social reformer Ramasamy Periyar was stoned in Tamil Nadu's Vellore districy, allegedly by a BJP worker who has since been taken into custody.

The next figure to come under attack was the bust of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in Kolkata's Kalighat. Seven people - whose party affiliation is not yet known - have been arrested and the BJP, which emerged from the Jan Sangh, has condemned the vandalism and demanded strict action against those responsible.

BJP president Amit Shah termed the desecration of statues "extremely unfortunate" and asserted that any party member found involved in destroying a statue will face severe action.

Distancing the BJP from the acts of vandalism after a few party leaders appeared to be endorsing the attacks, Shah said his organisation believes a wide range of ideas and ideologies can co-exist in India.

TOI had reported on March 5 that another Ambedkar statue was found damaged in Aligarh, prompting angry protests from local residents. The agitators had relented after police lodged an FIR against unknown persons on Sunday.