BJP demolishes iconic statues as a habit: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: In the wake of vandalism of Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s bust at Vidyasagar College in a violent attack allegedly by the armed BJP supporters during party president Amit Shah’s mega roadshow in central Kolkata on May 14 Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of following the habit of demolishing statues of iconic personalities one after another across the country.

In a Facebook post in the afternoon she stated, "Vandalising the statue of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar may not be viewed as an isolated incident. Incidence of vandalism of statues is not a new phenomenon for BJP. They vandalised age old statues in Tripura immediately after coming to power in 2018.

“It was a planned operation in Tripura where bull dozers were brought by BJP. This was public property built with govt funds.”

The West Bengal chief minister observed, “A statue of B R Ambedkar, founding father of Indian Constitution and a legendary leader of the backward classes, was vandalised in Meerut (UP) again under BJP rule in March last year.

“The Periyar statue in Vellore was suspected to be broken by a worker of the same party. This serious matter on demolition of statue was raised in Parliament in March last year.

The Trinamul chief pointed out, “Following the embarassment, the home ministry of present government at the Centre had to issue two advisories to all states for taking preventive measures. All India Trinamool Congress believes in conserving the rich cultural and historical heritage of our Bengal. It is totally against the hate philosophy of Modi and Amit Shah.”

Ms Banerjee noted, “Entire Bengal is hurt by the act of vandalising the statue of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar by outside goons of BJP. Vidyasagar is a great reformer, philosopher, educationist of Bengal whose name is remembered with great dignity and honour everywhere. People of Bengal condemns this henious act of vandalism by BJP goons.”