RLD objects to founder’s statue being draped in saffron
MEERUT: A political controversy arose after a statue of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, installed at irrigation department’s Dak bungalow in Baraut town of Baghpat, was draped in a saffron coloured cloth just before its formal unveiling on Saturday.
Union minister Satyapal Singh and UP minister for irrigation Dharampal Singh unveiled the statue, which was installed by the irrigation department in 2006. At the time Anuradha Chaudhary, then a member of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), was the irrigation minister in the state government.
Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), RLD’s state spokesperson Sunil Rohta termed it “cheap politics”. “Charan Singh was always against saffronisation of politics. While BJP is wrapping his statue in a saffron cloth in Baraut, in Haridwar, they are opposing a ghat being named after Charan Singh.” Commenting on why the statue was not inaugurated formally all these years, Rohta said, “During the rule of Samajwadi Party, we many times moved application to the district magistrate to seek approval for the statue’s unveiling by RLD chief Ajit Singh. However, there was no response.”
He said it was good that after 12 years of its installation the statue was finally unveiled, but added that wrapping it in saffron was unacceptable to his party.
Reacting to RLD’s objection, BJP president of western UP Ashwani Tyagi said that saffron colour was symbolic of the Indian culture and valour. “Those who are objecting seem to have no faith in their own culture and traditions. They should have opposed if the statue was draped in BJP colours, but why object to saffron?” he said.
REACTING TO RLD’S OBJECTION, BJP LEADER ASHWANI TYAGI SAID THAT SAFFRON WAS SYMBOLIC OF INDIAN CULTURE AND VALOUR