Mumbai, February 8 Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday condemned the desecration of the statue of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Telangana and termed it an attack on the very idea of social equality.
The NCP leader urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in the matter and demanded immediate and strict action against the perpetrators.
The incident occurred in the Sangareddy district of Telangana on February 6.
In a letter to Shah, Bhujbal said incidents targeting icons like Mahatma Phule amount to an assault on progressive social thought and cannot be tolerated in a democratic society.
Calling the incident a deliberate attack on the ideology of social reform, he said Phule's contribution towards social justice, equality, and the empowerment of the oppressed is invaluable, and any attempt to insult his legacy should be dealt with firmly.
The NCP leader said exemplary punishment must be given to the perpetrators to ensure such incidents are not repeated and to uphold constitutional values.