STATUE VANDALISM ON THE RISE

Two statues of communist icon Vladimir Lenin were brought down on March 6, in the Left bastion of Tripura where the CPM was in power for 25 years. This incident triggered the desecration of a bust of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Kolkata, followed by the bust of Dravidian movement founder E.V. Ramasamy Periyar in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore after a Facebook post by BJP leader H. Raja. Adding to the list of such incidents across the country, a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was desecrated in Meerut. Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the incidents of vandalism of statues and warned of stern action against those found guilty. The Home Ministry also issued a second advisory, holding district magistrates and superintendents of police “personally responsible” for such incidents of vandalism.

Agencies A statue of communist icon Lenin, being pulled down by some people with an excavator machine at Belonia in South Tripura district on March 6. The CPM held BJP workers responsible for it.