Ambedkar Statue Vandalised in Uttar Pradesh, Opposition Slams BJP Government

New Delhi: After a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar was found vandalised in Loni on Sunday (April 19) morning, a protest broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, with the protesters demanding strict action against the culprits, reported The Hindu.

The protests by members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community was subsequently called off after the police assured the demonstrators that strict action will be taken against the perpetrators.

“This morning, we received information about a statue of Dr Ambedkar being vandalised. A case has been registered, and a team has been constituted to arrest those involved,” said DCP Ghaziabad (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari, adding that several suspects have been detained for questioning.

“A SWAT team has also reached the spot and is working on the matter. CCTV footage from the area is being examined. Strict action will be taken against those involved,” said the DCP, reported The Hindu.

Opposition parties have slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Uttar Pradesg government over the incident and demanded swift action in the matter.

“The ruling party is supporting these miscreants belonging to the dominant sections. Such incidents are happening across the State. The attack on Dr. Ambedkar’s statue is an attack on Dalits’ self-respect movement,” said Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam.

The Samajwadi Party too targeted the BJP government in the state and termed it as “deeply distressing.”

“It is a deeply distressing incident. Dr. Ambedkar is not the leader of just one community. He is the architect of the Constitution and a symbol of India’s collective commitment to equality, dignity, and social justice,” said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Nasser Salim.

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