Violence broke out in Parbhani, Maharashtra on Wednesday following the alleged vandalism of a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a revered leader and architect of India’s Constitution. The protesters, outraged by the incident, torched vehicles and clashed with the police, demanding strict punishment for those responsible for the alleged desecration.
The protesters, primarily from Dalit and Ambedkarite groups, expressed their deep anger over the incident, declaring that they would not tolerate any insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar or the Indian Constitution. The violence escalated as the crowd grew increasingly unruly, prompting police to deploy tear gas shells to disperse the mob and restore order. A heavy contingent of police forces was stationed in the area to maintain control of the situation.
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. Ambedkar, also joined in condemning the act. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Prakash Ambedkar wrote, “The vandalization of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful to say the least. It is not the first time such vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened.”
He further stated that members of the VBA’s Parbhani district unit were the first to arrive at the scene of the incident and led the protests, resulting in the police filing an FIR and arresting one of the perpetrators. Ambedkar called for calm, urging everyone to maintain law and order, but warned, “If all the miscreants are not arrested within the next 24 hours, consequences will follow!!! Jai Bhim.”
The authorities have promised swift action and are investigating the incident, with many from the Dalit community expressing concerns over repeated attacks on Ambedkar statues and symbols of Dalit identity across the state. The Parbhani incident has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for greater protection of the symbols associated with Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy.