Architect of India’s Constitution, Ambedkar statue vandalized in Uttar Pradesh
Fifth incident in two months; widespread protests by Dalit groups
New Delhi, November 20 (KMS): The vandalism of a statue of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Gonda’s Samarupur village has sparked widespread protests across Uttar Pradesh.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the attack is the fifth such incident in the state in just two months, heightening tensions within the Dalit community and raising alarms over growing hate-driven incidents.
The statue, which had stood as a symbol of pride and equality for the local Dalit community for over 25 years, was severely damaged during the attack. In response, local residents took to the streets, demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and the swift reinstallation of the statue.
Deepak Gautam, an activist with the Bhim Army, a prominent Dalit advocacy group, condemned the attack, calling it a direct affront to the memory of Dr. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. “The vandalism of the statue of the chief architect of the Constitution is highly condemnable. We demand immediate action from the authorities to prevent such attacks in the future,” Gautam said. He further emphasized that such incidents were not isolated, calling out feudal elements that have repeatedly targeted Ambedkar statues, which represent equality and empowerment for the Dalit community.
The destruction of Ambedkar’s statues has sparked outrage, especially on social media, with calls for greater government accountability and protection for symbols of Dalit identity and self-respect. Protesters in Gonda, primarily from the Dalit community, voiced their frustration, decrying the continuous attacks on what they regard as sacred symbols of their pride and equality.
The series of vandalism cases has also drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who have linked the attacks to the BJP-led government’s “politics of hate.” Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam accused the ruling party of fostering an environment that allows such acts of violence against Dalit symbols. “This is not the first time that Ambedkar’s statue has been targeted. In the past two months alone, five such incidents have been reported across the state,” Alam said, adding, “These acts are part of a larger agenda. Encouraged by the BJP’s divisive politics, certain elements are trying to crush the self-respect of Dalits.”
Alam further stated that the attacks were a deliberate attempt to send a message of oppression and undermine the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar, whose contributions to Dalit rights are seen as integral to India’s democratic foundation.
