Anger in Rajkot over Ambedkar statues

Removal of two statues of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Rajkot saw anger of members of Dalit community spill onto the streets on Friday. They went on the rampage seeking re-installation.

According to information, a group of over 150 persons came out on streets, burning tyres and blocking traffic movement. They were angry over the sudden disappearance of two statues of Dr Ambedkar. However, later it was revealed that these two statues were installed without obtaining formal permission from the local government at Astha Chowk and Rajnagar Traffic Circle on April 14 last week, the 127th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation in its drive on late Thursday night removed the statues.

The members of Dalit community said that they would continue their protest till the statues were re-installed.

“We held meeting with leaders of the community and have been able to convince them that we would re-install the statues but they would remove them after five days. They can identify a suitable location and after formal approval, they could install the statue at that place,” Banchanidhi Pani, Rajkot Municipal Commissioner, told media persons. “It was also decided that henceforth no one would be allowed to install any statues in the city without obtaining statutory permission.”