Twitter
Advertisement

Tripura: Mob tears down Lenin's statue, plays football with severed head, alleges Left

Very often in countries where autocracy is defeated, we have seen liberated junta tearing down statues of demagogue. But, something similar happened in Tripura on Monday afternoon. 

Latest News
article-main
Video ScreenGrab
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Very often in countries where autocracy is defeated, we have seen liberated junta tearing down statues of demagogue.  The most iconic example is the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue by rebels in 2003, which marked the symbolic end of the Battle of Baghdad. 

But, something similar happened in Tripura on Monday afternoon.

A group of men, alleged to be BJP supporters by CPI(M), brought down a Lenin statue in Belonia town, in South Tripura. The incident happened around 2.30 PM on Monday, according to an Indian Express report. The group of men, even played football with the head of Lenin, alleges Left leaders. 

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, popularly known as Lenin is one of the stalwarts of Left ideology. There are many roads and memorials in Communist-ruled states named after Lenin. 

The video shows the statue being bullldozed with people chanting 'Bharat mata ki jai'. According to police, the driver of the JCB was arrested and later released on bail. The statue which was reportedly erected in 2013 cost Rs 3 lakhs. The fallen statue would be submitted to the municipality on Tuesday, the police said. The Left has alleged that BJP and IPFT workers have indulged in post-election violence after their comprehensive win on Saturday. And this statue being destroyed is just another example of Communist phobia.

Express quoted BJP south district secretary Raju Nath denying that they had hired the bulldozer for the purpose of bringing down the statue. According to him, the bulldozer was there from before and it had lost control owing to the crowd and hit the railings of the statue. The spontaneous crowd then forced the driver to tear down the statue, claims Nath. 

BJP leader Ram Madhav had tweeted the picture of the fallen statue with BJP's slogan for Tripura 'Chalo Paltai'. He later deleted his tweet. However Tripura Governor and former BJP leader, Tathagata Roy justified the action on Twitter and claimed that a 'democratically-elected government can undo what another democratically-elected government has done'. 

 

According to media reports, Home Minister Rajanth Singh has spoken to the Governor and condemned the incident. He has reportedly spoken to the DGP, demanding strict action against those involved even if they wore BJP colours. He also spoke to the Governor and reiterated that under no circumstances should law and order be flouted.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement