Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked the administration over the removal of a Dr. Ambedkar statue in Lucknow's Khantari village. Villagers protested the removal, resulting in stone-pelting incidents directed at the police.
Lucknow News: Political tensions escalated ahead of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14th. The administration's action to remove Ambedkar's statue in Khantari village, Mahingwa police station area, angered local residents. Protesters pelted stones at the police in response to the statue's removal, injuring several officers.
SP Chief's Sharp Attack
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav bly criticized the state government and administration. He tweeted, "The audacity of the administration to remove Babasaheb's statue in Lucknow is due to government pressure. Disregarding public aspirations fuels public outrage." He alleged that the administration, driven by its political ideology, targeted statues of great leaders.
Controversy Surrounding the Statue Removal
The administration claims the statue was illegally erected on public land, necessitating its removal. However, local villagers contend the statue is deeply connected to their faith and that the administration is suppressing their sentiments. Several police officers were injured during the ensuing conflict, prompting a lathi charge by the police to control the situation.
Clash Between Administration and Villagers
The administration maintains that the illegal erection of statues violates the law, while villagers argue it is their right and a matter of faith. This controversy has heated up the political climate in the state, particularly as the Samajwadi Party has attempted to frame it as a communal and caste-based issue.
