Vandalisation of Ambedkar statue : Cong faults TRS government

Warangal: The Congress activists staged a rasta roko at Mulugu Cross Roads here on Sunday, in protest against the mistreatment meted out to the statue of Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

It may be mentioned here that a broken statue of Ambedkar was found in a dumping yard in Hyderabad on Saturday. The incident drew a strong criticism against the State government from all quarters, especially from Dalit activists across the erstwhile Warangal district.

Speaking at the protest, senior Congress leader Dommati Sambaiah, who contested from Warangal Lok Sabha, termed it as a huge humiliation to one of the greatest personalities of the country – Ambedkar, who dedicated his life to working for the upliftment of untouchables, women and distressed sections.

"The act of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is deplorable and condemnable," Sambaiah said, demanding the State government to book a criminal case against the Municipal Commissioner.

The Commissioner would have maintained restraint while convincing the group that wanted to install the statue. Further, he demanded the government to probe into the issue so as to avoid such incidents in the future.

He sought the support of all political parties to exert pressure on K Chandrashekar Rao's government.

Greater Warangal Congress Committee president and Corporator Embadi Ravinder accused the TRS government of being intolerant towards the Dalits.

"KCR who promised to make a Dalit as the CM if separate Telangana is achieved, didn't keep his promise," Ravinder said.

He demanded the State government to take stringent action against the culprits, who vandalised Ambedkar's statue. Senior Congress leaders Meesala Prakash and Karate Prabhakar were among others present.