Take strong action against those vandalising statues: Abdullah to govt

Amid a spate of incidents targeting statues and busts of known figures across the country, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today asked the government to take stern action against those indulging in such acts.
The statues of Russian communist icon Vladimir Illyich Lenin and rationalist leader from Tamil Nadu EV Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, were damaged in Tripura and Tamil Nadu respectively earlier this week.
A statue of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar was also vandalised and replaced later in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.
I think it is a big challenge for India that the statues of leaders who made big contributions are being damaged. It is wrong.

The government should find out who are destructing the statues. It must take stern action against those doing so, Abdullah told reporters outside Parliament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday strongly disapproved of incidents of vandalism reported from certain parts of the country.
Modi had also spoken with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter, following which the ministry said it has taken serious note of the incidents and directed state governments to take strong action.