Nehru statue demolished in Durgapur: Bengal Congress demands restoration in 24 hours
Synopsis
A statue of Jawaharlal Nehru was reportedly lifted by crane and dumped in a forest near a Durgapur school to clear space for a Rakhi Bandhan event — triggering a Congress ultimatum to police and a BJP counter-allegation pointing the finger at a TMC-aligned Congress faction. The incident lays bare West Bengal's volatile battle over political symbols.
Key Takeaways
A statue of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was demolished in Durgapur , West Burdwan , reportedly to make way for a Rakhi Bandhan ceremony .
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) condemned the act on 30 August and gave police a 24-hour ultimatum to restore the statue.
Congress District President Debesh Chakraborty warned of a large-scale movement if the deadline is not met.
BJP MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee denied BJP involvement, alleging a TMC -aligned Congress faction was responsible.
Police had not issued a public response as of the time of reporting.
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) on Sunday, 30 August condemned the demolition of a statue of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Durgapur, West Burdwan district, and issued a 24-hour ultimatum to police to restore it to its original position. The incident has triggered a sharp political clash between the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the region.
What Happened
The statue stood in front of a meditation centre adjacent to Harshvardhan Primary School in Durgapur. According to Congress leaders, the statue was lifted using a crane and thrown into a nearby forest to make space for a Rakhi Bandhan ceremony held on the preceding Friday. The district Congress leadership alleged that BJP workers were responsible for the removal.
What Congress Said
Congress District President Debesh Chakraborty said, 'Jawaharlal Nehru's statue was uprooted with a crane and thrown into the forest like this. A Rakhi Bandhan ceremony was held there. The MLA from Durgapur Purba was also present at that ceremony. We will not accept this insult to the former Prime Minister of the country. We are giving the police 24 hours. They have to take action within this time. Otherwise, we will launch a movement.'
The party expressed strong anger over the incident, questioning why the country's first Prime Minister was being 'insulted' in this manner, and warned of a large-scale agitation if the statue was not reinstated within the deadline.
BJP Denies Involvement, Counter-Alleges TMC Link
Durgapur Purba MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee of the BJP rejected the allegations outright. He claimed that a faction within Congress had secretly aligned with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), and that it was this group which demolished the statue — with Congress then using the incident to target the BJP politically.
Banerjee said, 'There are two groups in Congress. One group has secretly joined the Trinamool Congress and it is this Trinamool that has demolished the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru. Congress is trying to blame BJP by protesting.' He also cited a prior incident near the AVL office in Asansol-Durgapur, where union offices were demolished, claiming his own intervention had saved a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on that occasion. He added that the BJP too wants 'exemplary punishment' for those actually responsible.
Political Context
The demolition comes amid an already-charged political climate in West Bengal, where the BJP and TMC have frequently clashed over symbols of power and political legacy. Congress, though a diminished force in the state, has sought to assert relevance by positioning itself as a defender of national icons. Notably, disputes over statues and public symbols have become recurring flashpoints across several states in recent years, often serving as proxies for deeper political rivalries.
What Happens Next
The Congress has put police on notice, with the 24-hour deadline framing the next move. If the statue is not restored, the party has signalled a 'big movement' — the scale and form of which remains to be seen. Police have not issued a public statement on the matter as of the time of this report.
Point of View
Regardless of its merit, muddies accountability and gives police cover to delay action. Until an independent investigation establishes who ordered the removal and why, both parties are essentially using a felled statue to score points, not to seek justice for it.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Jawaharlal Nehru's statue in Durgapur?
A statue of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, located in front of a meditation centre near Harshvardhan Primary School in Durgapur, was reportedly removed using a crane and thrown into an adjacent forest. According to Congress leaders, this was done to clear space for a Rakhi Bandhan ceremony held on the preceding Friday.
Who does Congress blame for the demolition?
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee has alleged that BJP workers were responsible for removing the statue, noting that the local BJP MLA from Durgapur Purba was present at the Rakhi Bandhan ceremony held at the site.
What has the BJP said in response?
BJP MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee denied the allegations, claiming that a faction of Congress secretly aligned with the Trinamool Congress carried out the demolition. He stated that the BJP also wants those responsible to be punished.
What action has Congress demanded?
Congress has given police a 24-hour deadline to restore the statue to its original location. Congress District President Debesh Chakraborty warned that if the deadline is not met, the party will launch a large-scale movement.
Has police responded to the incident?
As of the time of reporting, police had not issued a public statement on the matter. The 24-hour Congress ultimatum puts pressure on local authorities to act or face an organised agitation.
