The Hindu : Chakka jam planned against damage to statues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

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Chakka jam planned against damage to statues

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR JAN. 11. The commotion over damage caused to the statues of caste heroes during the past fortnight in Sikar and Jodhpur continued unabated in Rajasthan on Saturday. While there was some let-up in the anger of the Jat community as two persons who were accused of pulling down the bust of the late Baldeo Ram Mirdha in Jodhpur were taken into custody, the Rajput community is going ahead with its plan for a State-wide "chakka jam'' on Monday to protest against the damage caused to the statue of Rao Shekha in Sikar district.

The police in Jodhpur on Friday arrested Chandra Singh, a resident of Brigadier Jabarsingh Colony, in connection with the dismantling of the bust of Kisan Kesari Mirdha and throwing it into the compound of a students' hostel. His alleged accomplice, Bhawanipratap Singh, who was eluding arrest, was taken into custody on Saturday. After the arrest of Chandra Singh, the Jat community had taken back the call for a bandh in Sikar on Saturday.

The members of the Rajput community, still agitated over attempts to pull down a statue of Rao Shekha, founder of the Shekhawat clan at Ralawata village in Neem Ka Thana in Sikar district, today submitted a memorandum to the State Home Minister, Gulab Singh Shaktawat. The delegation, led by Narendra Singh Rajawat, President of Rajput Sabha, sought stringent legislation against those causing damages to statues. They demanded restoration of the statue in Ralawata besides installation of the statue of Rao Shekha here in the State capital.

The BJP State unit president, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, while addressing party workers here on Friday condemned the incidents of damaging the statues and termed it as a "conspiracy by mischievous elements''. In a resolution at the meeting the BJP blamed the Congress Government-led for its "failure'' to maintain law and order and protect social harmony.

``The State Government has been protecting anti-social elements for its political ends and the people have lost faith in the system,'' the resolution said.

However, the Rajasthan State CPI(M) unit blamed the BJP for its attempts to create a law and order situation here for gaining political advantage. The party Secretary, Vasudev, alleged that the recent incidents in which miscreants damaged the idols of gods and statues of caste leaders in Rajasthan was a "well- planned move'' by the Sangh Parivar to replicate a Gujarat in Rajasthan in the coming Assembly elections.

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Chakka jam planned against damage to statues

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