Statue vandalism: WB BJP unit demands stern action against culprits

Condemning the defacing of the statue of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal unit on Wednesday has demanded stern action against the guilty.

Speaking to ANI, West Bengal Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said that one incident of vandalism cannot be replied with another similar incident.

"One incident of vandalism cannot be replied with another similar incident. We condemn both. We have arrested six people and we will repair it (SP Mukherjee's bust in Kalighat) as well," he added.

The bust of the right-wing ideologue was vandalised on Wednesday morning, following the razing of Communist icon Vladimir Lenin statue in south Tripura on Tuesday and vandalism of social activist E.V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' statue in Vellore city of Tamil Nadu today.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said: "Syama Prasad Mukherjee is a patriot who laid his life for the nation. He is the son of West Bengal. Those guilty should be arrested immediately."

The BJP leader also said that the Mamata Banerjee government should punish those involved in the act.

The West Bengal wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also condemned the latest "barbaric act of vandalism".

"We demand very strong action against the culprits and want to give away the message that you just can't take away the contribution of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee in building West Bengal by this shameful act," said WB BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu.

Basu said the BJP would rebuild the statue with more grace.

At least six persons were detained when the bust of the prominent right-wing ideologue came under attack at Kalighat area of south Kolkata.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed strong resentment over these incidents and the Union Home Ministry has subsequently sent out an advisory to state governments asking them to take stringent action to prevent recurrence of such untoward incidents.