Protests in Allahabad after authorities remove Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's statue from outside historic Anand Bhavan

A statue of Jawaharlal Nehru was removed from an intersection here as part of a road-widening project, triggering a protest by the Congress.

According to authorities, the statue near Anand Bhavan was removed on Thursday from Allahabad’s Balsan Chauraha ahead of Kumbh Mela which will held in January 2019.

PCC member Kishor Vashney termed it as an insult to the country's first prime minister.

He also questioned the move, saying why was a statue of Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay, which is on the same road, remains untouched.

The Allahabad Develeopment Authority, however, issued a clarification, saying the designing of the road is being done by a private company and the statue was placed in a park on the same road. 

‘Due to broadening of the road near the park at Balsan Crossing in view of upcoming Kumbh Mela, former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru ji's statue had to be shifted, it was shifted barely 30m away from its original spot & with full respect and honour,’ the official said.