Punjab MLAs demand inclusion of national icon desecration in law

A group of legislators from Punjab, led by Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, has strongly condemned the recent defacement of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Nangal village, Phillaur. The act, allegedly carried out by separatist figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, has triggered calls for broader legal protections for national icons and social reformers.

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Chaudhary, along with MLAs Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal (Phagwara), Sukhvinder Singh Kotli (Adampur) and Sukhwinder Kumar (Banga), has submitted a joint letter to the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In the letter, the legislators urged the House to officially denounce the incident and consider expanding the scope of the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scriptures Bill, 2025, to also cover symbolic or physical attacks on figures of national importance.

In a written press release and later while speaking to this correspondent, Chaudhary emphasised the significance of Dr Ambedkar’s contributions to the nation, stating that the architect of India’s Constitution represents not only the marginalised but also the principles of justice, equality, and democracy.

In their letter, the legislators outlined three key demands: the Punjab Assembly should formally denounce the incident during its proceedings, bring acts of desecration against national icons under the same legal protections as those applied to religious scriptures and reaffirm Dr Ambedkar’s role as a foundational figure in India’s democratic framework.