‘ Breaking statues new kind of politics’
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and Dravidian icon Periyar’s in Tamil Nadu as “extremely unfortunate”.
Condemning the incidents, Mr Shah distanced the saffron party from the vandalism, but also said that no action will be taken against BJP national secretary H. Raja, whose social media post was blamed for the desecration of Periyar’s statue in Vellore.
In a series of tweets, Mr Shah asserted that any person associated with the BJP found to be involved with destroying any statue will face severe action from the party.
“As a party, we in the BJP believe that a wide range of ideas and ideologies can coexist in India. This is exactly how the makers of our Constitution envisioned our great nation to be. India’s diversity and the vibrant spirit of debate and discussion is what strengthens us... The BJP will always remain committed to ideals of openness and constructive politics through which we can positively impact people’s lives as well as build a New India,” Mr Shah tweeted.
On his part, Mr Raja deleted the controversial post and issued a clarification saying it was published “without his permission”, and the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP expelled a party worker who was arrested on Tuesday for damaging Periyar’s bust.
But it wasn’t enough to pacify Dravidians.
In what was seen as a retaliatory action, a petrol bomb was thrown at a BJP office in Coimbatore.
After realising the repercussion of his post, Mr Raja asserted, “We should contest ideas with ideas, not with violence. It was not my intention to hurt anyone’s feelings or sentiments. And if it did, I regret.”
According to a senior home ministry official, Mr Singh spoke to Tripura governor Tathagata Roy after he appeared to justify the toppling of Lenin’s statue in Tripura.
“What one democratically elected government can do another democratically elected government can undo. And vice versa,” the governor had tweeted.
Later on Tuesday, Mr Roy tweeted, “I am advised that pulling down statues ( Lenin’s or anyone else’s) unless done by lawfully empowered authorities, qualify as ‘ Mischief ’ under Indian Penal Code. They are bailable and noncognizable
In Kolkata, in what was seen as retaliation to vandalism of statues of nonSangh Parivar ideologues, members of an ultra- Left student outfit vandalised and defaced a statue of Bharatiya Janata Party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Wednesday
offences. Trying to blow them up to something like rioting or murder is unwarranted.”
In Kolkata, in what was seen as retaliation to vandalism of statues of nonSangh Parivar ideologues, members of an ultra- Left student outfit vandalised and defaced a statue of Bharatiya Janata Party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Wednesday.
Police arrested six members of the “Radical,” believed to be a pro- Maoist students body formed in Jadavpur University four years ago, over the incident at South Kolkata’s Tollygunge.
Reacting to the incidents of vandalism, the home ministry issued two separate advisories to states clearly saying that district magistrates and superintendents of police will be held personally responsible for such incidents. Mr Rajnath Singh also appealed “to everyone, all parties, that anyone indulging in such acts should be dealt with strictly. These incidents can never be justified.”
In the first advisory issued on Wednesday morning, the Centre asked the states and Union Territories to immediately check incidents of “toppling and damaging of statues” and take tough action to ensure such developments are stopped.
In the second advisory, which came within hours of the first one, the ministry further clarified, “DMs and SPs will be personally held responsible for any such incidents of vandalism of statues.”
The ministry asked the states to direct all concerned DMs and SPs to initiate all possible action to maintain law and order. It also asked that all DMs and SPs be directed to maintain strict vigil on anti- social elements, social media and rumourmongers and immediately take action against those indulging in acts of violence or inciting violence.