Latest in statues row: PM, Shah, Rajnath, Mookerjee, Periyar, Raja’s apology, Janeu cut and more

New Delhi: Following the pulling down of Lenin’s statue in Tripura two days ago and vandalism of Periyar’s statue in Tamil Nadu a day later,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condemned the recent incidents of pulling down the statues in strong words, saying stern action will be taken against those found guilty, a statement by his office read.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said PM Modi had spoken to him and “expressed strong disapproval of such incidents”.

Amit Shah disapproves statue razing act

BJP president Amit Shah said party does not support such act. He tweeted, “The recent issue of destroying of statues is extremely unfortunate. We as a party do not support the bringing down of anybody’s statue. I have spoken to the party units in both Tamil Nadu and Tripura. Any person associated with the BJP found to be involved with destroying any statue will face severe action from the party.As a party, we in the BJP believe that a wide range of ideas and ideologies can coexist in India. This is exactly how the makers of our Constitution envisioned our great nation to be. India’s diversity and the vibrant spirit of debate and discussion is what strengthens us.”

Mookerjee after Lenin and Pariyar

Two days ago, Russian communist dictator Lenin’s statue was pulled down in Tripura. Later Periyar’s statue was vandalized in Tamil Nadu. Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s statue was vandalize today morning in South Kolkata. Mookerjee statue’s face was blackened. Six persons, including a woman who claimed to be students of communist dominated Jadavpur University and members of an ultra-left student outfit, are arrested. The accused used a hammer and a chisel to damage parts of the bust. They chanted slogans against the razing of Lenin’s statue in Tripura. A poster signed ‘RADICAL’, which is the name of an ultra-Left student outfit, was put up near the bust.

Ministry of Home statement

The Ministry of Home Affairs had in a statement issued on Wednesday said: “Incidents of the toppling of statues have been reported from certain parts of the country. MHA has taken serious notes of such incidents of vandalism. PM also spoke to HM in this regard and has expressed his strong disapproval of such incidents. MHA has asked the states that they must take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents. Persons indulging in such acts must be sternly dealt with and booked under relevant provisions of law.”

BJP leader apologises

In another related development BJP leader H Raja today apologised for his Facebook post threatening to bring down statues of Dravidian icon E V Ramasamy ‘Periyar’, In an apology on his Facebook page today, H Raja blamed one of the administrators of his social media page for the post, which was later deleted.Hours after Raja’s facebook post, which was later removed, two men were held in Vellore for allegedly vandalising a Periyar statue. Both arrested persons Muthuraman, a BJP worker and Francis, a communist were in an inebriated state.

Janeu of Brahmins cut

In reaction to this, sacred threads of 10 bare chested people returning from a temple were cut off by a group of eight in Triplicane near Chennai today morning with slogans admiring Periyar.