North News
Chandigarh, January 27
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday condemned the attempted vandalism of a Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue at Amritsar’s Heritage Street, calling it a “tragic incident” that has deeply hurt public sentiment. Mann assured exemplary punishment for the perpetrator, emphasizing the state’s commitment to maintaining law and order. A man was arrested on Sunday after attempting to damage the statue near Town Hall on Heritage Street, which leads to the Golden Temple. A video of the incident, showing the man climbing the statue with a hammer, went viral on social media. The Amritsar police registered an FIR, and an investigation is ongoing. In response, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh criticized the AAP-led Punjab government, questioning its ability to maintain law and order. Chugh highlighted that the incident occurred near the Kotwali police station, especially during Republic Day celebrations.
In an official statement, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said that exemplary punishment will be ensured to a person who had tried to cause damage to the statue of Bharat Ratna Baba Sahib Dr. BR Ambedkar at Heritage Street in Amritsar on Sunday. Describing it as a very very unfortunate and tragic incident, the Chief Minister said that it has bruised the psyche of everyone who respects Baba Sahib Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Indian constitution. Urging the people to exercise restraint, he said that exemplary action would be ensured against the miscreants indulging in these types of dastardly acts. Bhagwant Singh Mann unequivocally said that no one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace in the state and evil designs of anti-Punjab forces to create communal strife will be nipped in the bud.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is fully vigilant and committed to crush the nefarious designs of anti-social and anti-national elements who try to create unrest in Punjab. He said that exemplary action will be taken against any person who tries to disturb the law and order situation in the state through such acts. Soliciting fulsome support and cooperation of the people, Bhagwant Singh Mann requested them to play a proactive role in cementing the ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood to make Punjab the most peaceful and communally harmonious state.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora also strongly condemned the desecration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue at Heritage Street in Amritsar, expressing outrage over the incident. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Arora stated, “We won’t let anyone disrupt Punjab’s communal harmony, and perpetrators will face severe punishment.”
