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Ambedkar statue issue: City prefers peace
THOUGH VARIOUS organisations and institutions have condemned the desecration of BR Ambedkar's statue on Allahabad University campus, the atmosphere in the city remained peaceful by and large. The rank and file of the Bahujan Samaj Party are shocked and angry over the incident but the party has decided to take things in its stride. Party activists and leaders have been advised to play it cool and not to allow the evil designs of others to succeed, said BSP district president Ramdular while talking to the HT Allahabad Live.
THOUGH VARIOUS organisations and institutions have condemned the desecration of BR Ambedkar's statue on Allahabad University campus, the atmosphere in the city remained peaceful by and large.
The rank and file of the Bahujan Samaj Party are shocked and angry over the incident but the party has decided to take things in its stride.
Party activists and leaders have been advised to play it cool and not to allow the evil designs of others to succeed, said BSP district president Ramdular while talking to the HT Allahabad Live. "Ours is a disciplined party and people with vested interests are trying to provoke us at a time when elections are getting close," he remarked.
He rubbished reports that some BSP activists were caught by the police while trying to burn the effigy of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, holding him responsible for the desecration of Ambedkar's statue at AU's law faculty.
"They cannot be members of our party," he said, adding: "Whenever any such move is made the party office gives a nod first." On the other hand, inspector of Colonelganj police station said that he had arrested two persons Surendra Chowdhary and Achche Lal while they were trying to burn the effigy of Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both the student leaders claimed themselves BSP supporters. He said, both were caught before they could make such a move.
Also, there were similar reports that Samajwadi Party workers had burnt effigy of Mayawati but the inspector denied this claim too.
Another BSP leader Kumar Narain accused the police of making attempts to disrupt the function which was held in the memory of late BR Ambedkar on Wednesday. All through the function they stood around us. He said, the party leaders today met the DM and demanded security for the statues of Ambedkar in the district.
He said, we have been directed by the high command to control our tempers because of the approaching elections. "The district administration is doing his best to get the culprits responsible for damaging the statue nailed," he added.
When pointed out about rumours that the BSP was itself involved in damaging the statues, he said this too was the gameplan of those who saw the party as their enemy.
Meanwhile, social activist Anand Mohan has decried public money being spent in installation of statues. He said, the party which wished to install the statue of a leader should do it from its own coffers and look after its maintenance.
