Why Was Ambedkar’s Statue Defaced in Ashoknagar, MP?

Bhopal, April 30 (NationPress) In a shocking act of vandalism in Madhya Pradesh's Ashoknagar town, an iconic statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the esteemed architect of the Indian Constitution, was defaced by unidentified miscreants.

After a formal complaint was lodged, the police initiated a case against unknown culprits and began their search. The incident took place on Tuesday evening when the statue’s face was marred with black stains in Ambedkar Park, according to police reports.

The act of desecration quickly garnered public outrage, leading to a significant assembly at the scene. While local residents took it upon themselves to clean the statue, the community expressed its anger and indignation over the incident.

Additional Superintendent of Police Gajendra Singh Kanwar told IANS, "The matter is currently under investigation. A case has been registered under Section 173 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) against unknown individuals, and we will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice soon."

The case has been filed at Kotwali Police Station in Ashoknagar, and dedicated police teams are working diligently to apprehend the culprits. Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage from the last 72 hours to gather evidence.

This incident has triggered protests from members of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Bhim Army, who are demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and the installation of a new statue.

Mukesh Ahirwar, district president of the BSP, who filed the complaint along with others, stated to IANS: "The police have promised that the culprits will be apprehended within 72 hours. If this does not happen, we will initiate a massive protest."

Meanwhile, state president of the Congress, Jitu Patwari, has condemned the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its perceived role in creating an environment conducive to such incidents.

Taking to his social media, Patwari described the defacement as part of a troubling trend in Madhya Pradesh, where repeated acts of vandalism against Dr Ambedkar's statues have raised serious concerns.

He emphasized that these acts are no longer random crimes but seem to be part of a deliberate conspiracy. Patwari further criticized the BJP, claiming that these actions not only disrespect the Dalit community but also threaten the principles of social justice and the very foundation of the Indian Constitution.

He posed the question of whether the BJP feels threatened by Dr. Ambedkar's ideology, citing four similar incidents that have occurred throughout the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with Vasundhara Raje Scindia, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a prominent figure in the BJP, criticized the Congress for failing to honor Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar during a commemorative event.