04 January,2011 07:50 AM IST | | Mohit Sharma and Amit Kumar
A day after MiD DAY reported the issue of spectacles being stolen from the Mahatma's statue in New Delhi, BJP leaders slam the Congress for neglecting the matter
Many leaders conceded they were unaware of the issue before it was highlighted by MiD DAY. "This is really unfortunate to know that Congress politicians have forgotten Gandhiji. Instead they keep on wooing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
They don't know how important the statue of Mahatma Gandhi is and it should be restored as soon as possible," senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
Another BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain said: "This is a classic example which proves how insensitive Congress has come become even towards the Mahatma."u00a0
"The restoration should happen at the earliest. But I am happy that they didn't do it during the Commonwealth Games, or they would have made money even out of that," Hussain added.
Earlier, sources in Delhi police had told MiD DAY that when they investigated the case of the theft after the matter was reported to them, they couldn't find the glasses anywhere. When MiD DAY tried to find out if a case had been lodged in connection with the incident, cops said they were not aware of what exactly had transpired.
"We remember that the matter was definitely reported to the cops at the time, but whether an FIR was registered or just a daily diary entry was made is not clear," a senior police officer posted in New Delhi for the past several years said.u00a0
As far as the probe into the matter goes, Delhi police sources said: "Apart from the possibility of the glasses being stolen, there is also the likelihood that someone who didn't like Mahatma Gandhi might have defaced the bust. But as the cops couldn't trace the glasses, none of these theories can be confirmed."
| Gyarah murti |
| This massive black sculpture is located on the T-junction on Sardar Patel Marg from where roads lead to Willingdon Crescent and Teen Murti House. The sculpture, by Devi Prasad Roy Choudhary, depicts the famous Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 against oppressive salt taxes imposed by the British regime. |
| Not a priority? |
| According to sources, unidentified persons had stolen the glasses at least six years ago. Neither has the thief been caught, nor has anyone bothered to replace the spectacles till now. According to information available with MiD DAY, following this incident, which was reported to the local police, a permanent picket was positioned at Gyarah Murti with a commando deputed at the spot 24 hours a day. Besides, traffic cops are present on a regular basis too. |
