Ambedkar statue desecration sparks outrage; Gavvala Srikanth demands strict action

Sarangapur – Telangana: The desecration of Dr. B R Ambedkar’s statue in Sarangapur mandal of Jagtial district has triggered outrage, with Dalit and Bahujan leaders demanding immediate arrests and stringent laws to prevent such incidents in the future.

Call for swift punishment

Gavvala Srikanth, State President of Telangana SC, ST, BC Minority Student Youth Association, along with leaders from the SC Classification Anti-Corruption Committee and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) Party, strongly condemned the insult to the Ambedkar statue. They demanded the immediate identification, arrest, and severe punishment of those responsible, warning of mass protests if action is delayed.

Demand for stringent laws against statue desecration

Leaders emphasized the need for a special law at the state and central levels to prevent any future desecration of statues. They urged authorities to enforce the harshest penalties, including capital punishment, against those found guilty of such acts.

Suspicion of political motive

During a site visit, VBA State President Gavvala Srikanth expressed concerns that the act was politically motivated, aiming to create caste-based tensions. He stated that Ambedkar has no personal enemies, and such actions stem from religious fanaticism and caste-based discrimination.

Criticism of official inaction

Srikanth criticized government officials for their inaction even days after the incident. He called for immediate measures to identify and prosecute those involved. Failure to act, he warned, would lead to intensified protests, including a mass hunger strike.

Public meeting held at desecration site

A protest meeting was held at the site, where leaders voiced their outrage and demanded justice. Among the participants were State Secretary Theegala Shekhar, Mohammed Rahim, DMC JAC (SC, ST, BC, Minority) District President Meesala Lingam, Bhavana Nirmana Karmika Sangam District President Thirupelli Laxman, Dr. B R Ambedkar Sangham President Arikilla Navin Kumar, Vice President Medapatla Manohar, and several district and mandal leaders.

Warning of mass protests

The leaders warned that if authorities fail to take immediate action, large-scale protests and hunger strikes would be launched to demand justice for the desecration of the statue. They urged the community to remain vigilant against attempts to incite division and reaffirmed their commitment to Ambedkar’s ideals of social justice and equality.