Uproar erupts as Ambedkar statues vandalised in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao, Etawah

Two separate incidents of vandalism to Dr B.R. Ambedkar statues have caused outrage in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao and Etawah districts. Villagers, primarily Dalits, protested by holding sit-ins at the sites, demanding action against the perpetrators. In both cases, the local administration quickly intervened, installing new statues and registering complaints with the police.

The Unnao police stated that the statue in Hasnapur village was defaced by miscreants, but the Sohramau police force arrived on the scene and replaced it with a new one. An official statement promised that a case would be filed under the relevant sections of law. Similarly, in Etawah's Chandpur village, the Ekdil police received information about the vandalized Ambedkar statue and promptly installed a replacement. They assured that the situation had returned to normal.

The Congress party has criticized these incidents as part of an organized campaign to humiliate the Dalit community. A senior U.P. Congress leader suggested that the attacks signal feudal elements' efforts to demoralize Dalits, who are more outspoken about their rights in the state. Such acts of vandalism are not only directed at Ambedkar but also other symbols of marginalized groups.