Gopabandhu statue shifting in Puri: Cong slams Govt

BHUBANESWAR: A day after removal of the statue of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das from the Singhadwar of the Shreemandir in Puri, Congress on Sunday criticised the State Government for disrespecting such a great freedom fighter of the State. 

Talking to mediapersons here, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan said the statue, which was installed by Mahatma Gandhi on May 8, 1934, was removed by the administration without taking legal angles into account. 

Harichandan said the eviction team of the Puri Municipality demolished the memorial amid rain in the town before shifting the statue of Gopabandhu Das to an open roof top. By using a crane, the team shifted the statue wrapped up with a big gunny bag which was an insult to the people of the State who love the great son, he added. 

He said the way the evacuation team removed the statue like an unwanted material hurt the sentiments of people who love the Utkalmani. “It is heard that our Chief Minister was a student of History. But in which way the historical monument was demolished on Saturday it was a great insult to the history and historical monuments,” he said. 

Harichandan said the removal of the Statue would not only hurt the people of the State but also those who love Gopabandhu’s philosophy, living outside of the State.

Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson Pratap Jena said the Congress, which is criticising the State Government in the issue, never did a small effort to respect the Utkalmani in its 50 years of ruling. “Our Government has launched some welfare schemes in the name of Gopabandhu Das as a mark of our respect to the great soul,” he said.