A statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a towering icon of social justice, was vandalised late Wednesday night in Gangapur village under Nawabganj tehsil in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district, triggering widespread outrage, especially from leaders of the Dalit and Bahujan communities.
The act of desecration was caught on CCTV footage, which has since been circulated on social media. In the video, three unidentified individuals can be seen targeting the statue with deliberate intent, striking it on its extended arm and repeatedly hitting its neck with what appear to be rods or sticks. One of the culprits’ faces is partially visible in the footage, offering investigators a potential lead.
The incident took place on a highly symbolic day—the same day the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre observed “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” or “Constitution Murder Day”, marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Ironically, the very Constitution that Ambedkar drafted was suspended during that Emergency, making the timing of this act all the more politically and socially charged.
Chandrashekhar Azad, Lok Sabha MP from Nagina and chief of the Bhim Army, strongly condemned the incident. He took to social media to call the vandalism not only a cowardly and unlawful act, but also an attack on the collective sentiments of millions who revere Dr. Ambedkar and his ideology.
“This is not just about damaging a statue,” Azad wrote. “It’s about wounding the dignity and the constitutional values that Babasaheb stood for. He gave voice to the voiceless, fought for women’s liberation, and provided the oppressed castes with a pathway to justice.”
Azad directly accused the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of fostering a climate of impunity, claiming that previous incidents of similar vandalism and anti-Dalit violence were either neglected or dealt with lightly, emboldening such elements to act again.
“The government’s failure to take swift and meaningful action in earlier cases has only encouraged these hatemongers,” he said.
Expressing frustration, Azad also posed a pointed question: “Why are you so afraid of Babasaheb?”
He added that the ruling dispensation understands the threat Ambedkar’s teachings pose to deep-rooted caste hierarchies and systemic injustices, suggesting that the widespread dissemination of Ambedkar’s philosophy would shake the very foundations of Manuvaad (a term used to describe upper-caste orthodoxy and casteist hegemony).
The Bareilly police have launched an investigation, and efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators using CCTV footage and local intelligence inputs. Locals in Gangapur village have expressed their anger and sadness over the desecration, with many calling it a direct assault on the legacy and dignity of the Bahujan community.
This incident is not isolated. In recent weeks, there has been a disturbing rise in caste-based violence and discrimination across various parts of Uttar Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states. For instance:
- In Ballia, earlier this month, a Dalit family was brutally attacked by nearly two dozen men wielding iron rods and sticks for hosting a community ceremony at a banquet hall in Rasra.
- In Agra, a Dalit groom was humiliated and forced to dismount his horse during his wedding procession by upper-caste individuals who objected to what they saw as a violation of caste norms.
- In Odisha’s Ganjam district, just a few days ago, two Dalit men were subjected to horrific abuse. They were assaulted, had their heads shaved, and were forced to eat grass and drink drain water, all on allegations of cattle smuggling—an excuse often weaponised to dehumanise Dalits and Muslims.
Chandrashekhar Azad, in his statement, said these acts are not just targeted incidents but part of a larger pattern of systemic hatred aimed at suppressing the identity, pride, and voice of the Bahujan Samaj.
“The attacks may begin with statues,” he noted, “but they ultimately aim to erase the history, pride, and future of an entire community.”
The vandalism of Dr. Ambedkar’s statue has reignited calls for stricter laws, stronger enforcement, and greater social accountability to protect the symbols, leaders, and legacies of historically marginalised communities.
For many, this is not merely about restoring a broken statue—it is about reasserting the values of equality, justice, and dignity enshrined in the Constitution that Ambedkar gave the nation.
