Man attempts to vandalise Ambedkar statue near Golden Temple, arrested

Tension gripped the city on Sunday after a man allegedly tried to vandalise the statue of BR Ambedkar at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple, officials said

Incidentally, the Kotwali police station is located just a few metres away from the spot.

A purported video of the incident went viral on social media in which the man could be seen climbing up the statue using a long steel ladder carrying a hammer.

Though the suspect, who hails from Moga district, was arrested from the spot, various Dalit organisations gathered outside the Town Hall Gate and held a demonstration against the alleged attempt to vandalise the statue.

Heavy police force led by senior police officials, including DCP Jagjit Singh Walia, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh, rushed to the Town Hall gate and tried to pacify the protesters.

Meanwhile, Dalit organisations gave a call for a bandh in the city.

Attempt to vandalise Ambedkar statue 'shameful', says Mayawati   

Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Monday condemned the alleged attempt to vandalise the statue of BR Ambedkar and accused the state’s AAP government of negligence.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also slammed the Congress and the BJP, claiming that the two parties are using Ambedkar’s name to deceive the people of Delhi ahead of the February 5 Assembly polls.

In a series of posts on X, Mayawati said, “The attempt to desecrate the statue of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street in Amritsar and to set fire near a copy of the Constitution is shameful. Such incidents, caused by government negligence, must be strongly condemned”.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo demanded strict legal action against “such anti-social elements” to prevent any recurrence of such events in the future.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday condemned the incident and said strict action would be taken in the matter. —with PTI