From Saffron to Blue: The Changing Colours of Ambedkar’s Statue

A saffron coloured statue of Ambedkar was painted blue in the presence of BSP leader Himendra Gautam.

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim

A statue of Dalit leader BR Ambedkar, which was installed just a day ago, was painted over, changing its colour from saffron to blue on Tuesday, 10 April.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Uttar Pradesh government had on Monday, 9 April, installed a saffron painted statue of BR Ambedkar in Badaun village to replace a statue of the Dalit leader that was vandalised recently.

The statue of the architect of the Indian Constitution in Dugraiyya village, which was vandalised recently, was replaced with this new one.

The new statue from Agra, which was painted in saffron unlike the usual blue colour was unveiled in the presence of district police officers.

However, on Tuesday, the statue was painted blue in the presence of Bahujan Samaj Party leader Himendra Gautam.

On being asked about the change of the statue’s colour, the BSP leader evaded the question.

According to a report in The Times of India, the police said the old statue was vandalised by a local with an intent to create a law and order problem in the village. The accused has since been apprehended. A police officer too was suspended for his alleged negligence.

Speaking to the daily, Akram Miyan, husband to the village head, said that the statue had been damaged despite the deployment of policemen at the park where it was located.

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In the past, government buildings such as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhavan (which houses the office of the Chief Minister) and Haj Committee office, have been painted saffron – a hue which is said to represent the ruling BJP.

When asked to comment on the matter of building being painted saffron, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is always seen in saffron robes, had defended the move and said, “Saffron colour represents purity… can someone deny the existence of the sun which is also saffron… people questioning all these are narrow-minded”.

(With inputs from IANS)