The falling statue of Sardar Patel (Image: The Hindu)
A violent clash erupted in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, as members of the Bhim Army attacked and toppled a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, intending to replace it with a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The incident, which occurred in the Makdone area, escalated into stone-pelting and arson, sparking tensions between the Bhim Army and the Patidar Samaj.
On the night of January 24, a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was installed near the Makdone bus stand. Bhim Army workers ran a tractor over the statue, toppled it, and attacked it with stones, sticks, and rods. The group aimed to replace the Patel statue with a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, leading to a confrontation with members of the Patidar Samaj.
The clash turned violent, with both sides attacking each other using iron rods, hurling stones, and vandalising vehicles and shops. Some cars were set ablaze during the unrest. Ujjain Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) Nitesh Bhargava, accompanied by police from Tarana, Makdone, and Ujjain stations, intervened to pacify the situation after engaging with both groups.
Police investigations revealed that the disputed statue was placed on vacant land between Mandi Gate and the bus stop. Bhim Army members expressed anger at the installation of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue and used a tractor to remove it. In response, members of the Patidar community gathered at the site, leading to the violent clash.
Ujjain Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Guru Prasad Parashar stated, “No one has reported to us about it so far. An additional police force has been deployed. The situation is completely under control. We have removed the stones that were hurled by (members of) the two communities from the spot in the Makdone area.” According to him, no prohibitory order barring the gathering of persons has been issued as of yet.
“A statue of a great personality installed near Krishi Upaj Mandi square under Makdone police station by people of a group was vandalised by the people of another group on Thursday morning. After which a clash broke out between the two groups on the spot,” disclosed Guru Prasad Parashar, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Makdone police station in-charge Bhim Singh Deora was suspended for gross negligence, and Sub Inspector Lalchand Sharma, injured during the incident, is undergoing treatment. The situation is reported to be under control with the involvement of the collector and Superintendent of Police.
The clash is rooted in the demand for the installation of statues honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in an empty lot near Krishi Upaj Mandi. The Panchayat is currently deliberating on the matter.
Misinformation surrounding the incident surfaced on social media, with attempts to paint the clash in communal and caste-related hues. Individuals such as Sandeep Singh, a Congress supporter, and ‘Hate Detector,’ known for spreading fake material, propagated false narratives. Singh alleged communal undertones and later deleted the tweet after being exposed for spreading false news.
‘Hate Detector’ portrayed the incident as anti-Dalit and presented it through a caste lens, claiming that Patidars associated with the ruling party wanted to erect a statue of Sardar Patel, while Dalits desired a statue of B. R. Ambedkar. The group misreported that Dalits toppled the Patel statue, leading to a confrontation.
It is essential to clarify that the event was not religiously motivated, and there is no evidence of Jai Shri Ram slogans during the incident. Additionally, there is no indication of a land dispute, and attempts to stoke communal tensions by peddling fake news were evident. The clash is a result of a disagreement between two communities, exploited to fuel hostilities and target Hindus.
Leave a Comment