Mumbai / Correspondent
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshavardhan Sapkal has strongly condemned the recent attack on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Pune Railway Station, calling it not just an attack on a statue but "an attack on the very soul of India."
Sapkal alleged that the accused, Suraj Shukla, will likely be portrayed as mentally unstable, but in truth, he is a product of the poisonous ideology nurtured by the RSS and BJP. "This incident is the bitter fruit of the hatred systematically cultivated by these forces, and it poses a danger to the entire nation," Sapkal said, demanding strict action to prevent such incidents in the future.
Reacting sharply to the incident where a man attacked Mahatma Gandhi’s statue with a sickle, Sapkal emphasized that Gandhi is not merely a leader of the Indian independence movement but the moral compass of the nation. "Truth, non-violence, secularism, and inclusiveness—these values that Gandhi championed are the foundation of Indian democracy. His philosophy is not only revered in India but also across the world. Many countries have statues of Gandhi and draw inspiration from his principles," Sapkal said.
He further alleged that extremist forces that refuse to accept the Indian Constitution harbor deep hatred toward Mahatma Gandhi. "It was from this hatred that Gandhi was assassinated. Since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, such hateful ideologies have gained strength and legitimacy. Under the protection of the state, these groups have spread false propaganda against Gandhi and glorified his assassin, Nathuram Godse."
"Suraj Shukla is just one of many who have been radicalized by this venom. The need of the hour is to take strict action against such individuals. He should be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) so that others are deterred from such actions in the future," he added.
"Gandhi's ideas could not be killed with bullets, and they won’t be destroyed by attacks on statues either. Godse’s ideology leads to destruction, but Gandhi’s philosophy remains the guiding light and truth of the nation," Sapkal concluded.
000
