Vandalising statues is an uncalled for act in a civilized society! Should be given up at all costs

The environment of the spread of ideological hatred by way of vandalising the statues of Lenin, Periyar and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukerjee in Tripura, Tamilnadu and Bengal, the three ideologically different states of the country believing in the values and principles of secularism, casteless society, peaceful co existence and unity in diversity is a curse for the second largest democracy of the world. Why is it that after being democratically elected with a historic majority in a left citadel (state) of Tripura for the past 25 years the ruling political dispensation’s rank and file exhibit their anti democratic and unlawful acts by arbitrarily damaging the statue of Lenin in public thus throwing the law of the land to winds. The perpetrators should be brought to justice as such acts of violence and ideological hatred not only divide our peaceful society but also send across the country a wave of hatred which is highly damaging and harmful to the integrity and communal fabric of the country. It’s good that the BJP’s national chief Amit Shah has condemned such cowardice acts and warned his partymen to exercise restraint. But what makes things and situations even more worse is the fact that instead of condemning what has happened in Tripura, the ideologically different groups have committed he same blunder and become the larger sinner by damaging the statue of the erstwhile Jan Sangh Founder Dr. Shama Prasad Mukerjee in Bengal while in Tamilnadu the statue of a social reformer and a rationalist leader Periyar has been destroyed again by some disgruntled elements, thus hurting the sentiments of the DMK followers. Such acts of vandalism and open perpetration of violence on ideological lines are highly uncalled for and disturbing for a cohesive fabric of a secular society. India being the country with diverse culture, religions and ideologies should learn to live and practice the peoples’ faith and thought process freely without encroaching upon the rights, will, faith of religion and ideology of others and any contravention, arbitrary, illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful act should be dealt with severely and punished under the strictest sections of the law. Meanwhile the prime minister Narendra Modi has deliberated with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue of statue falling and destruction in three states. This is a serious matter and the NDA govt led by BJP should not wase time to curb this increasing vandalism in the name of ideological antagonism and not feel shy to arrest its own partymen and teach them an appropriate lesson, if they are at fault.
SUNIL NEGI