BSP chief Mayawati on Monday condemned the alleged attempt to demolish the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Punjab’s Amritsar and accused the state’s AAP government of negligence.
The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also targeted the Congress and the BJP, claiming that both the parties were using Ambedkar’s name to deceive the people of Delhi ahead of the assembly elections to be held on February 5.
Punjab Police on Sunday arrested a man from Moga district who allegedly attempted to damage the statue of Ambedkar at the Town Hall located on Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple.
A purported video of the incident circulated on social media, in which a man carrying a hammer can be seen climbing the statue using a long steel ladder.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Mayawati said, “The attempt to desecrate the statue of Baba Saheb Dr. BR Ambedkar and set fire to a copy of the Constitution near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street in Amritsar is shameful. Such an incident happened due to government negligence. The incidents should be strongly condemned.”
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo demanded strict legal action against “such anti-social elements” to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
Highlighting the timing of the incident, he said, “It is especially shameful for the AAP government that this insult happened on Republic Day, the historic day when the country celebrates the adoption of the Constitution by Baba Saheb.”
Referring to the Delhi Assembly elections, Mayawati urged voters to beware of the “double standards” of AAP, Congress and BJP and to strengthen the “Ambedkarite BSP” by voting for it.
Mayawati also criticized Congress’ alleged political opportunism, saying, “Congress, which had in the past insulted Baba Saheb by not giving him Bharat Ratna and ignoring his followers, is now holding rallies in his name in his birthplace Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. This is nothing but political deception and electoral opportunism.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday condemned the attempt to damage BR Ambedkar’s statue in Amritsar and said strict action would be taken in the matter.
