Tension prevailed in Jaipur’s Pratap Nagar in Rajasthan after a statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj was allegedly vandalised by unidentified miscreants at a temple on Tonk Road. Following the incident, the police deployed force in the area to maintain law and order.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jaipur East, Tejaswini Gautam, confirmed the development, stating, “Police reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident. An FIR has been registered, and multiple teams have been deployed to investigate the matter. Some miscreants attempted to set fire to a nearby petrol pump but were removed using force. Some individuals have been detained, and action is being taken as per law.”
“We received information that some anti-social elements tried to vandalise Tejaji’s statue at Tejaji temple on Tonk Road. Police reached the spot and have registered an FIR. Investigation is underway,” she told news agency PTI.
The incident has sparked anger among the local Hindu community, with members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staging a protest at the site.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot, MP Hanuman Beniwal Condemn Vandalism
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the act, calling it “highly deplorable” and an “unacceptable attack on public sentiments and faith.” In a post on X, he said, “The incident of breaking Veer Tejaji Maharaj’s statue in Jaipur’s Pratap Nagar is extremely condemnable. Tampering with public sentiments and faith in this manner is unacceptable.”
Gehlot also demanded stringent action against the culprits, stating, “I urge the government to swiftly identify the accused and take the strictest possible action. Additionally, effective and robust measures should be put in place to ensure the security of religious sites, preventing such incidents in the future.”
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal also reacted to the incident. Sharing his statement on X, he said, “It has come to my notice that anti-social elements have broken the statue of folk deity Veer Tejaji Maharaj in Pratap Nagar’s Sector 3, Jaipur. I have spoken to the Jaipur Police Commissioner and urged him to identify the culprits as soon as possible and initiate strict legal action against them.”
Beniwal further asserted, “Such acts by anti-social elements are an attack on public faith. Millions of people revere Tejaji Maharaj, and any tampering with their faith will not be tolerated.”
Police continue to investigate the matter, and security has been heightened in the area.
For the uninitiated, Veer Tejaji Maharaj was a legendary folk deity and warrior from Rajasthan, revered primarily by the farming communities in the region. He is regarded as a symbol of bravery, honesty, and sacrifice. Born in the 12th century in the Nagaur district, Tejaji is widely worshipped as a protector of cattle and is believed to have had mystical powers to cure snakebites.
His temples are spread across Rajasthan, and the Tejaji Fair is also held in his honour.