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Gwalior, Oct 16 (IANS) Gwalior city Superintendent of Police (SP) Heena Khan, who raised slogans of “Jai Jai Shri Ram” to pacify the crowd amid a fresh round of controversy over the proposed installation of BR Ambedkar’s statue, said “all persons living in India are Sanatani”.
Speaking to IANS on Thursday, Khan said a high-level meeting of senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Gwalior region, was held after the protest call by various political parties was announced.
He claimed that after several rounds of discussions the situation has calmed down to a great extent.
“Discussions were going on with leaders of various parties and the situation was largely resolved. However, police forces were deployed to ensure public safety and that the daily activities of citizens are not affected,” Khan told IANS.
“If the name of God can bring peace, I think it is great,” Khan said, reacting to chanting of “Jai Jai Shri Ram” during clashes between the crowd of protesting lawyers and police.
She also added, “‘Bharatvarsh me sabhi sanatani hai aur sabko apni bat rakhne ka adhikar hai’ (All Bharatiyas are Sanatani and they all have right to express their views).”
Asked if she was angry when the mob attacked her and accused her of disrespecting Sanatan Dharma, Khan replied, “Not angry, but yes, I was sad. We all live and work in this country and everyone has the right to express their views. I was doing my duty. If taking God’s name can bring peace, I think it is a good thing.”
There was tension in Gwalior after two groups of lawyers faced off over the installation of Ambedkar’s statue in the premises of the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Tension escalated on October 15 when supporters of former High Court Bar Association president Anil Mishra clashed with police while heading to a temple for the recitation of the “sacred Sunderkand” recitation, a chapter of the Ramayana.
The case pertains to February this year when a proposal to install Ambedkar’s statue in the Gwalior bench was submitted and later approved by a committee of the High Court.
However, in March, a group of lawyers opposing the move protested in the court premises, leading to clashes with another group of lawyers supporting the installation of Ambedkar’s statue.
While Dalit organizations are in favor of Ambedkar’s statue, another group wants to install the statue of former judge and constitutional expert BN Rao in the High Court premises.
–IANS
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