Statues of Dalit icons found abandoned in UP

Lucknow, Apr 19 (ANI): A month after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati stepped down as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, several statues of Dalit leaders have been found abandoned across the state.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the president of the Bhimrao Ambedkar Mahasabha, Lal Ji Prasad Nirmal, said these Dalit icons deserved the highest respect from the state government.

"Whichever party is in power, it is the responsibility of the state government that not only they should install statues but also protect and care for them. The Dalit community in the state as well as the country considers these statues pious. These people were Dalit icons; Baba Saheb Ambedkar is our God. So, the whole Dalit community feels insulted," said Nirmal.

Nirmal also said he was planning to meet Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and request him to look after these statues.

"I will request Mulayam Singh Yadav and also meet Akhilesh Yadav on this issue. We will ask them to protect the statues of Ambedkar," said Nirmal.

During her tenure as chief minister, Mayawati had built several parks and statues dedicated to the memory of Dalit leaders in the state.

Last year, Mayawati had opened a 33-acre park in the name of B. R. Ambedkar in Noida.he park, which was built from the government exchequer by spending Rs 650 crore has statues of elephants, B. R. Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati. (ANI)