Two Other Ambedkar Statues Vandalised in UP, Yogi Asks DMs to Ensure Security

New Delhi: Just days after the Uttar Pradesh government issued orders to change the name of Dalit icon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar as Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, two statue of the leader was vandalised in Allahabad and Gauhaniya village in Dumariyaganj on Saturday.

The first statue with its head chopped off was found by residents at a park in the city's Trivenipuram locality.

"We are aware of the matter and are trying to locate the suspects," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Allahabad Aakash Kulhari.

He said a case has been registered and ruled out any tension in the area following the incident.

Taking note of the latest incidents, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued directives to district magistrates and SPs to take steps to ensure security of statues installed in their respective districts and see that such instances are not repeated.

Close on the heels of this, another Ambedkar statue vandalisation was reported from Gauhaniya village in Dumariyaganj. The hand and nose of the statue were broken by unknown miscreants last night. This makes it fourth such incident in the state in March.

The statue is being replaced in an urgent basis and a case has been lodged against unidentified persons, Superintendent of Police, Dharamvir said.

Taking cognizance of the matter, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that stern action will be taken against the miscreants who vandalised the statues in Allahabad and Siddharthnagar.

Earlier, an Ambedkar statue was vandalised in Rajapatti village in Azamgarh on March 10. Before that, miscreants had targeted an Ambedkar statue in Meerut.

The acts of vandalism continue in the state despite Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issuing a directive to all senior district officials to ensure the security of statues of eminent personalities.

Earlier, BSP chief Mayawati had demanded that those disturbing peace and harmony by vandalising statues should be booked under the sedition law. She also demanded security for statues and memorials built in the memory of icons, especially those of Dalits and other backward classes.

A spate of vandalism began when a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was brought down in Tripura days after the BJP registered a thumping victory in the state Assembly elections. A statue of social reformer Periyar was vandalised in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district and a bust of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee was blackened in Kolkata’s Kalighat.

Original news source