Over 150 Ambedkar statues vandalized in UP, alleges Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that more than 151 statues of B.R. Ambedkar have been vandalized across Uttar Pradesh during the BJP's tenure in the state. The allegations were made while releasing what the party termed a 'Samajwadi audit report' documenting the incidents.

According to Yadav, the vandalization represents part of a broader campaign aimed at humiliating marginalized social groups and those who follow Ambedkar's ideological legacy. Ambedkar, India's principal architect of the Constitution and a Dalit icon, remains a deeply significant figure for social justice movements across the country.

The Samajwadi Party leader's allegations come amid ongoing political tensions in the state between the ruling BJP and opposition parties. The party has used the report to bolster its criticism of the state government's handling of religious and social sentiments.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the BJP has not immediately responded to the claims. Statue vandalism has emerged as a contentious political issue across India, with competing narratives over which historical figures should be commemorated in public spaces.