Shillong, Aug 6: The statue of U Tirot Sing Syiem which was unveiled by the Meghalaya government at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka on February 16, this year, has been demolished by a mob of rioters during the ongoing unrest in violence-hit Bangladesh.
Confirming this on Tuesday, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh said, “I have just seen a video sent by one media person showing the destruction of the entire IGCC and apparently, the statue of U Tirot Sing Syiem also was demolished by a mob.”
Lyngdoh said that since there is a huge anti-India campaign which is going on in Bangladesh, the monument fell prey to rioters as a sign of protest against the Indian High Commission Cultural Centre.
“According to the video, I think the bust is demolished but the lower portion bearing the name of Tirot Sing is still intact,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP Meghalaya has said it has taken a strong exception to the destruction of the statue and that it “insults the memory of a hero and hurts the sentiments of all communities of our state and nation”.
BJP chief spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang said, “The images coming out of Bangladesh should shock any civilized person, anywhere in the world. The vandalism of U Tirot Sing’s memorial, as well as the attack on minorities and their places of worship in Bangladesh is unacceptable and has left all of us in utter dismay. We pray that right sense prevails and peace returns immediately.”
The party has made an appeal to the central government to take up the matter with authorities from the neighbouring country to ensure protection of such memorials and bring an end to the violence that is being unleashed on minorities in Bangladesh.
