No one will be allowed to break communal harmony of Punjab: CM Mann on desecration of Ambedkar statue

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly condemned the desecration of Ambedkar’s statue in Amritsar and assured that strong action will be taken against the guilty.

In a post on X on Monday, CM Mann said that no one will be spared and strong action will be taken.

On January 26, a man vandalized the statue on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple complex. He was arrested soon after a video of the incident went viral.

According to the police, the accused, Akashdeep Singh, belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. He used a hammer to deface the statue and set fire to the stone-carved Constitution book in front of the statue by lighting inflammable material. He reportedly used a ladder to reach the statue’s top.

The police said the motive behind the incident is yet to be determined. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed that a first information report (FIR) has been registered and the accused was arrested. Further investigation is underway.

CM Mann, in his post, assured that no one would be allowed to disturb the brotherhood and unity of Punjab.

He wrote on X (in Punjabi), “The incident of breaking the statue of Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar Ji at Heritage Street in Sri Amritsar Sahib is highly condemnable and no one will be spared for this incident. Whoever is responsible for the incident, will be punished severely. No one will be allowed to break the communal harmony of Punjab. Instructions have been issued to the administration to investigate this and take strict action against the culprits…”

On Monday, members of Dalit bodies called for a shutdown in Amritsar to protest the vandalism of the iconic statue of B.R. Ambedkar on Republic Day evening. They have demanded strict action against the accused, who was arrested by the police.

Appealing for calm, Shiromani Akali Dal Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “The attempt to vandalize the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at Heritage Street in Amritsar is deplorable and part of a conspiracy to divide our society and cause disturbance in Punjab. Such acts should be dealt with sternly. I appeal to Punjabis to maintain calm.”

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Akali leader Sukhbir Badal condemned the desecration of the statue and demanded a thorough inquiry to uncover any conspiracy behind the act. “This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit,” he said.

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema described the act as an attack on the values of the Constitution and equality. “The accused has been arrested, and the Punjab government will ensure strict action against him,” he said.

Local Member of Parliament and Congress leader Gurjeet Singh Aujla urged the government and administration to take swift action against the miscreants. “His (Ambedkar’s) legacy is the foundation of our democracy and it is our duty to protect and honor it,” he said.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh blamed the AAP government for the deteriorating law and order situation. “Punjab AAP’s Bhagwant Mann government is in deep sleep. Punjab’s law and order has deteriorated. The CM is busy with tourism while BR Ambedkar’s statue is tampered with and the Constitution is insulted, that too outside the police station,” he said.