2 days ago
Nehru Statue Reinstalled in Durgapur After Congress Protest
A large statue of Jawaharlal Nehru was found lying in a forest near a school in Durgapur.
Congress leaders said people supported by the BJP had moved it with a crane.
They said the area was needed for a Raksha Bandhan celebration.
A local BJP lawmaker denied this and blamed fighting between two Congress groups.
Congress workers cleaned and protested near the statue.
They asked the police to put it back within 24 hours.
Police reinstalled the statue on Sunday night.
The police said they are investigating, but Congress said nobody had been arrested.
A large Jawaharlal Nehru statue was reportedly uprooted from a private primary school in Durgapur and dumped in a nearby forest patch.
Congress leaders alleged BJP-backed individuals used a crane to remove the statue to make room for a Raksha Bandhan ceremony attended by a BJP MLA.
BJP MLA Chandrasekhar Banerjee denied the allegation and blamed rivalry between two Congress factions.
Police reinstalled the statue at its original location on Sunday night after Congress issued a 24-hour deadline.
Police said they had received a complaint and begun an investigation, while Congress said no arrests had been made.
- Who
- Jawaharlal Nehru’s statue, Congress leaders, BJP MLA Chandrasekhar Banerjee and the police are central to the dispute.
- What
- A Nehru statue was uprooted and dumped in a forest patch, then reinstalled after a Congress protest; responsibility remains disputed.
- Where
- The incident occurred at a private free primary school run by an NGO in Durgapur Steel Plant township, near a forest patch in West Burdwan.
- When
- The statue was allegedly removed on Friday, found on Sunday, reinstalled Sunday night and garlanded on Monday afternoon.
- Why
- Congress alleged it was moved to create space for a Raksha Bandhan ceremony; Banerjee blamed rivalry between Congress factions.
Congress Allegations
BJP Denial
Who removed the statue?
Congress Allegations
Congress leaders alleged that BJP-backed individuals used a crane to uproot and dump the statue.
BJP Denial
BJP MLA Chandrasekhar Banerjee denied the allegation and said a Congress faction was responsible.
Why was it removed?
Congress Allegations
Congress said the statue was moved to make room for a Raksha Bandhan ceremony attended by a local BJP MLA.
BJP Denial
Banerjee attributed the incident to rivalry between two Congress groups and rejected Congress’s explanation.
Police response
Congress Allegations
Congress welcomed the statue’s reinstallation but demanded arrests and said those responsible had not been detained.
BJP Denial
Police said they had received a complaint and started an investigation; the articles do not report any arrests.
Key facts
- Statue
- A large statue of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
- Reported removal
- The statue was allegedly lifted by crane and dumped in a nearby forest patch
- Congress allegation
- BJP-backed individuals removed it to create space for a Raksha Bandhan ceremony
- BJP response
- Durgapur East MLA Chandrasekhar Banerjee denied the charge and blamed Congress factional rivalry
- Police action
- The statue was reinstalled at its original location on Sunday night
- Investigation
- Deputy commissioner of police Raspreet Singh said a complaint had been received and a probe started
- Congress position
- The party welcomed the reinstallation but said no one involved had been arrested
Quotes
Chandrasekhar Banerjee
BJP MLA from Durgapur East
“Durgapur steel plant and its township were established in 1959 when Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister. It is shameful for us that his statue was uprooted and thrown into a forest patch by the BJP activists to create space needed for the Raksha Bandhan ceremony”
telegraphindia.com
“We welcome the police initiative to reinstall the statue, but no one involved in the incident has been arrested yet. This is because the culprits belong to the BJP. We will not allow this”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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