Ambedkar?s statue defaced, tension erupts in Gurgaon

The desecration of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar spawned unrest on the Helimandi-Pataudi Road in Gurgaon, reports Sanjeev K Ahuja.

The desecration of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar spawned unrest on the Helimandi-Pataudi Road in Gurgaon on Sunday. Over 100 Dalit activists disrupted the traffic movement on the road for nearly two hours, protesting the vandalisation of Ambedkar’s statute by unknown miscreants.

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Tension erupted in Helimandi, 35 km from Gurgaon city, on Sunday morning, when hundreds of Dalits gathered around the desecrated statue. According to the Gurgaon administration, it was a mischievous act by some vagabonds to foment trouble. The police also claimed to have recovered empty water bottles and some snacks from near the statue. The police have registered a case under sections 153A (for attempting to cause riot), 427 (causing loss) and 448 (trespassing) of the IPC against unknown miscreants.

Led by various Dalit organisations, protesters shouted slogans against the administration and demanded immediate action against the miscreants.

Satya P Jaravata, president of Haryana’s Lord Budha Club, alleged that the desecration was part of a conspiracy. "Some people with vested interests did it deliberately after a boundary wall was erected around this statue," Jravata claimed.