PM Modi Disapproves Vandalism Of Statues, Speaks To Home Minister  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today "strongly disapproved" incidents of vandalism of statues in certain parts of the country and spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter.

The Home Ministry said it has taken serious note of such incidents of vandalism and has directed state governments to take strong action. Official sources said that the prime minister has strongly disapproved of the incidents of vandalism reported from certain parts of the country.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the states that they must take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents," the Home Ministry said in an advisory to all states and union territories.

The ministry said the state governments were told that persons indulging in such acts must be sternly dealt with and booked under relevant provisions of law.

"Honorable Prime Minister has also spoken to the Home Minister in this regard," the advisory said.

The advisory did not specifically mention Tripura but sporadic violence and clashes have been reported between rival political groups in the state after election results were declared on March 3.

Watch: Days After BJP Sweeps Tripura, Lenin Statue In Belonia Pulled Down

A statue of Lenin was brought down at Belonia town in South Tripura on March 5 with the help of a bulldozer after the BJP's victory in the Assembly elections in Tripura where a 25-year-long communist government was ousted. A statue of social reformer and founder of Dravidian movement EV Ramasamy ‘Periyar' was also allegedly vandalised in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district last night.

Yesterday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh called Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy and Director General of Police AK Shukla and asked them to ensure peace and check violence till a new government is installed in the state.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba had also spoken to the DGP and asked them to take all possible steps to maintain law and order, check violence and restore peace and public order.

Watch this discussion with senior journalists Nilanjan Mukophadhyay and Neerja Choudhury on what this says about the nature of our political democracy.

Also Read: BJP Sweeps Tripura, To Share Power In Nagaland, Still With A Chance In Meghalaya