Former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday strongly denounced the act of damaging of statue of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, installed in a park in Mirzapur’s Awas Vikas colony in Uttar Pradesh even as the party threatened a country wide protest on the issue saying the Centre is now encouraging mob lynching culture.
“We strongly condemn the act of damaging of the statue of late Rajiv Gandhi in Mirzapur. This act has hurt the sentiments of millions and millions of people and Congressmen across the country because of their love and respect for the great leader. The State Government should immediately conduct an inquiry into the incident in a time bound manner so as to punish the guilty,” Azad said in a statement
He added that various anti-social elements have become blatantly active in last few months because of inaction of the State Government which has resulted in deterioration of law and order in the state of UP.
The statue of Rajiv Gandhi was found damaged a few days after the Congress distributed a booklet which described Kashmir as ‘Indian-Occupied Kashmir’. The booklet was distributed during Congress’ UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad’s visit to lucknow. The Congress called for a snap state-wide strike for Monday to protest the Government inaction.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar said the head of the statue was found in a drain with a note which read, “Our government is in power and he has been sent to Pakistan”. Babbar said the party will wield its strength and show how it takes revenge. He also linked the incident to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to the city.
A FIR has been registered at the Katra police station by Mirzapur’s Congress president Abdul Wahid. The FIR reads that the statue of the late Prime Minister was vandalised on the intervening night of June 4 and 5. No arrests have been made in the case so far.