Ashoka rock edicts in shameful condition in Junagadh, BJP leader to sit on fast against ASI’s lethargy

Junagadh

About 14 months ago, over 100-year old building protecting the stone inscription of Ashoka collapsed due to heavy rain.

It is a matter of surprise that even today the debris of collapsed building is in as it is situation. The archaeological department has not even removed the debris, forget construction of new building. The stone inscription of archaeological importance has not been cleaned. It has been poorly covered.

President of Junagadh unit of ruling BJP, Sanjay Koradia has announced to start fast unto death from 9 September if lethargy from government side continues in this regard.

Background

The structure was built by the Britishers in year 1901 using brick and lime mortar. No steel was used to construct it. The inscription has been carved over a granite stone. As brick and lime mortar are softer compared to granite stone, there has been no serious damage to either stone or inscription. A granite stone carries 14 directives of Marya King Ashoka. It is the biggest piece of inscriptions of Ashoka(256 BC). The building protecting the stone had developed cracks and local people had approached the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) number of times, but there was no response. This lethargy resulted into collapse of building during monsoon 2014.

– DeshGujarat