Vandalising statues akin to desecrating nation's culture: Scindia

Vandalising of statues is akin to desecration of the country's culture and civilisation, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said today.
Scindia also hit out at the BJP alleging that since the party came to power, there has been an atmosphere of intolerance in the country.
Incidents of vandalism of statues in certain parts of the country have been reported in the last couple of days.
A statue of Lenin was brought down at Belonia town in South Tripura on Monday with the help of a bulldozer after the BJP's victory in the Assembly elections in the north-eastern state where a 25-year-long communist government was ousted.

A statue of social reformer and founder of Dravidian movement E V Ramasamy 'Periyar' was also allegedly vandalised in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district last night.
A bust of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee was also vandalised today in south Kolkata by seven persons, including a woman, allegedly belonging to a left-wing group 'Radical'.

"It can be anybody's statue, but if you are demolishing statues, then you are desecrating the country's culture and civilisation," Scindia told reporters here, when asked about the incidents in Tripura and other parts of the country after the BJP came to power.
"An atmosphere of intolerance is prevailing in the country after the BJP came to power," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today strongly condemned incidents of vandalism of statues in certain parts of the country and warned of stern action against those found guilty.
Modi also spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter and expressed his strong disapproval of such incidents, according to an official statement.
Scindia said, "I am more surprised as those who are indulging in it (referring to vandalism of statues) and those opposing it are from the same party."
"In both these incidents, if anyone is guilty then it is the BJP workers," he charged, adding that "no steps are being taken to check them."

Scindia noted that a minister had earlier demanded to change the Constitution of the country and a member of the ruling dispensation termed Nathuram Godse (who had killed Mahatma Gandhi) as the "biggest patriot".
"Whatever is happening in the country is part of a well thought out conspiracy to damage its liberal and secular character," the former Union minister said.
"I think when you occupy a public post, then you should be able to say what is right, is right, and what is wrong, is wrong, to anyone whether they belong to the ruling party or the opposition," he said.

"If our workers do anything, then it is right and if others do then it is wrong is not acceptable. Such an ideology has no place in the country," he added.