Attempt to vandalise Ambedkar statue in Amritsar ‘shameful’, says Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on 27 January, Monday, condemned the alleged attempt to vandalise a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Punjab's Amritsar and accused the state's AAP government of negligence.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also slammed the Congress and the BJP, claiming that the two parties are using Ambedkar's name to deceive the people of Delhi ahead of the 5 February Assembly polls.

Punjab Police on Sunday, 26 January, arrested a man hailing from Moga district, who allegedly attempted to damage the statue of Ambedkar at the Town Hall on Heritage Street, which also leads to the Golden Temple.

A video of the purported incident was circulated on social media, in which the man could be seen climbing up the statue using a long steel ladder carrying a hammer.

In a series of posts on X, Mayawati said, 'The attempt to desecrate the statue of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street in Amritsar and to set fire near a copy of the Constitution is shameful. Such incidents, caused by government negligence, must be strongly condemned.'

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo demanded strict legal action against 'such anti-social elements' to prevent any recurrence of such events in the future.

Highlighting the timing of the incident, she remarked, 'It is particularly disgraceful for the AAP government that this disrespect occurred 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 exercise caution against the 'double standards' of the AAP, the Congress, and the BJP, and to strengthen the 'Ambedkarite BSP' by voting for it.

Mayawati also criticised the Congress for its alleged political opportunism, saying, 'The Congress, which disrespected Baba Saheb in the past by not awarding him Bharat Ratna and neglecting his followers, is now staging rallies in his name in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow, his birthplace. This is nothing but political deception and electoral opportunism.'

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also on Monday condemned the attempt to damage the statue of B.R. Ambedkar in Amritsar and said strict action will be taken in the matter.