According to police, the white-coloured statue of Mahatma Gandhi, installed at the gram sabha land in Dhaka Ghanshyampur in Shahjahanpur, was painted in saffron colour on Wednesday night by some miscreants.
After painting CM's Office, government buildings, Dr Ambedkar’s statute, police stations, toilets etc in saffron hue, now a 20-year-old statue of Mahatma Gandhi was saffronised in Shahjahapur district of Uttar Pradesh.
According to police, the white-coloured statue of Mahatma Gandhi, installed at the gram sabha land in Dhaka Ghanshyampur in Shahjahanpur, was painted in saffron colour on Wednesday night by some miscreants.
Tension prevailed in the area when villagers saw the statue turning saffron overnight. They blamed the local BJP leaders behind the act. Soon a large number of Congress leaders and workers gathered in the village and held a demonstration. They demanded action against culprits and repainting of Mahatma Gandhi statue in the original white colour.
The Congress District President Kaushal Mishra alleged that it was the handiwork of BJP and RSS to create trouble in the area. “A row was created deliberately by the local BJP leaders by painting Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in saffron colour to divert the attention of people from local issues,” charged the Congress leader.
The District Congress president said that it amounted to paying disrespect to the Father of the Nation. He demanded immediate arrest of those behind the act or else party workers will hold a dharna and take to streets.
The BJP local leaders, however, denied the charge. Rakesh Anawa, the BJP District President said that the party has no idea about who painted the statue in saffron colour. “We respect Father of Nation. Party will never indulge in any act which may lower the dignity of Mahatma Gandhi. It must have been done by some miscreants to put the blame on the BJP,” he clarified.
Senior district and police officials rushed to the spot to check any fall-out of the incident. A probe has been ordered and agitated villagers and Congress leaders have been assured action against those behind painting the statue in saffron colour. The statute was being re-painted in white colour to defuse rising passions.
Earlier, a blue-coloured statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was painted in Badayun district in April this year. After protest from locals and BSP leaders, the statue was repainted in blue.
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 "Mahatma Gandhi's statue painted saffron")
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