NEW DELHI: Clashes erupted between police and villagers in Khantari village, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, when law enforcement arrived to remove a statue of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
The situation turned tense as villagers allegedly pelted stones at the police, who responded with a lathi charge to control the situation.
BJP MLA Yogesh Shukla arrived at the scene to facilitate dialogue with the villagers regarding the unauthorized installation of the statue.
“This is a matter of Ambedkar’s statue and we want this matter to be resolved peacefully. There was no permission to place the statue, this is the order of the Supreme Court. The statue will be kept, but there is a process and system for it; we cannot break the system. I want that the statue should be kept and the wishes of the villagers should be fulfilled and the law should also be protected, which should be kept according to the law written by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar,” said Shukla.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued instructions for a special initiative on April 13, the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti. For the first time, statues of all great national heroes, including Baba Saheb Ambedkar, installed in parks, monuments, and squares will be cleaned with participation from public representatives, officers, employees, and the general public.
Various events will be organized across all districts in Uttar Pradesh on April 14 to commemorate Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. Public representatives, officers, and employees will garland Baba Saheb’s statues as part of the celebrations.
The birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar will be celebrated with state honors and ceremonial arrangements throughout Uttar Pradesh.
