Man Arrested For Attempt To Vandalise BR Ambedkar's Statue In Amritsar, Sukhbir Badal Condemns 'Heinous Act'

Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the 'heinous act' and demanded a thorough inquiry and stern action against the accused man.

A man was arrested for tampering with BR Ambedkar's statue at Town Hall in Punjab's Amritsar on January 26.

Source : X@kpvadher358

A man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly attempting to damage a statue of BR Ambedkar at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar. An investigation has been launched and an FIR has been registered against the accused.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the incident, calling it a "heinous act" which has hurt the sentiments of millions. He demanded stern action against the man and a thorough inquiry to ascertain the motive.

"Strongly condemn the attempt to desecrate the statue of  Dr. B.R. Ambedkar ji’s statue at the Heritage Street in Sri Amritsar Sahib on Republic Day. This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel the conspiracy behind this shameful incident. Let's stand united against such vile attempts to create divisions in our society," Badal stated in a post on X.

Earlier today, AIG Amritsar Jagjit Singh Walia had said that a few miscreants tried to tamper with BR Ambedkar's statue at Town Hall in Punjab's Amritsar on Republic Day.

"The motive behind the incident is yet to be found out," Walia said.

#WATCH | Punjab | Jagjit Singh Walia, AIG Amritsar, says, "A few miscreants tried to tamper with BR Ambedkar's statue at Town hall. We caught them and a case has been registered and an investigation is going on. The motive behind the incident is yet to be found out..." pic.twitter.com/upLrUpbagA

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2025

A purported video of the incident later surfaced on social media in which the man could be seen climbing BR Ambedkar's statue using a long steel ladder with a hammer in his hand. He could also be seen damaging the statue with the hammer.

Attempt to vandalize the statue of Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Ji in Amritsar is highly condemnable and unfortunate. This act is an attack on the values of our Constitution and equality. Accused has been arrested, and the Punjab Government will ensure strict action against him. pic.twitter.com/kFQ2UhcoJk

— Adv Harpal Singh Cheema (@HarpalCheemaMLA) January 26, 2025

Condemning the incident, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh hit out at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over the law and order situation in the state.   

"Today on the pious occasion of Republic Day, BR Ambedkar's statue and the Constitution of India were insulted outside PS Kotwali, Amritsar, in broad daylight. This incident is condemnable... Punjab AAP's Bhagwant Mann government is in deep sleep. Punjab's law and order has deteriorated. The CM is busy with tourism while BR Ambedkar's statue is tampered with and the constitution is insulted. That too outside the Police Station at the main crossroads of Amritsar," Chugh said. 

#WATCH | BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh says, "Today on the pious occasion of Republic Day, BR Ambedkar's statue and the Constitution of India were insulted outside PS Kotwali, Amritsar, in broad daylight. This incident is condemnable... Punjab AAP's Bhagwant Mann… https://t.co/r2EE9kKrjQ pic.twitter.com/j1WjHv8SMa

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2025

Last year in December, an unidentified person damaged a replica of the Constitution held by the statue of B R Ambedkar outside Parbhani railway station in Maharashtra. This triggered arson and stone-pelting in the area as a crowd of around 200 people gathered near the statue, raising slogans and demanding strict action against those responsible for the damage.

Stones were hurled and incidents of arson were also reported from the area, a police official told PTI.

Some of the protesters also rushed towards the railway station, pulled down the locomotive pilot of the Nandigram Express train, and assaulted him. The railway tracks were also blocked for over 30 minutes. The Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police personnel then evicted them and the train finally left after almost an hour.