Section 144 has been imposed in Bodhan town of Telangana’s Nizamabad district after AIMIM and TRS workers violently opposed the unveiling of a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue, said the local BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri.
Taking to Twitter, MP Dharmapuri said, “The same crooked mindset..Demolish ours—Accomplish theirs! MIM & TRS goons trying to thwart the unveiling of the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & destroy the statue set up at Bodhan Ambedkar Chowrasta accepted by a municipal resolution!”.
The MP shared a video of the incident as well where a large mob could be seen gathered around the statue.
The same crooked mindset..Demolish ours—Accomplish theirs!
— Arvind Dharmapuri (@Arvindharmapuri) March 20, 2022
MIM & TRS goons trying to thwart the unveiling of the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & destroy the statue set up at Bodhan Ambedkar Chowrasta accepted by a municipal resolution!@HMOIndia @BJP4India @BJP4Telangana pic.twitter.com/zv4fiVdCRc
Local BJP MP Arvind Dharmapuri said that a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was planned to be erected at the Ambedkar crossroad of Bodhan town, which shares a border with Maharashtra.
Vishnu Varshan Reddy, the State General Secretary of Andhra Pradesh also took to Twitter to say that AIMIM supporters and workers were pelting stones at those unveiling the statue saying that the statue was being installed in “their area”.
The sad state of secularism in Telangana.@aimim_national supporters pelted stones on the people who wanted to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in “their area”.
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) March 20, 2022
Ruling party @trspartyonline is also indirectly siding with them. pic.twitter.com/zKzzZqEbvp
Reportedly, to ensure that matters don’t escalate further, section 144 has been imposed in the area.
MP Arvind Dharmapuri has also alleged the tacit involvement of the police and the state administration. Taking to Twitter, Dharmapuri said that the police and the state administration were opposing the installation of a Shivaji Maharaj statue while allowing the construction of illegal structures called “mosques”.
On one hand the Police & the dist administration oppose the installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Bodhan.
— Arvind Dharmapuri (@Arvindharmapuri) March 20, 2022
And on the other, the same people peacefully allow the construction of an illegal structure called “Mosque”.
Heights of M appeasement!#BodhanBandh 1/2 pic.twitter.com/4zgNy7ZQOg
“Now, the ruling party TRS’ counsellor openly threatening to disrupt law & order of the Bodhan town, if #ShivajiMaharaj’s idol is installed!” he further said posting a video on Twitter.
Now, the ruling party TRS’ counsellor openly threatening to disrupt law & order of the Bodhan town, if #ShivajiMaharaj’s idol is installed !@narendramodi @HMOIndia @JPNadda @BJP4India @BJP4Telangana pic.twitter.com/180xoZ8dYe
— Arvind Dharmapuri (@Arvindharmapuri) March 20, 2022
Reportedly, clashes erupted after AIMIM and TRS workers were pitted against BJP and Shiv Sena workers who were installing the statue.