Cong condemns vandalism of Ambedkar statue in UP

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Congress today condemned the vandalism of Dr B R Ambedkar's statue in Uttar Pradesh, and deplored the fact that this was allowed to happen with impunity.

''The Congress would like to assert that it deplores any incident in respect of respected idol or icon of India,'' Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, briefing mediapersons in the precincts of Parliament.

Appealing for ''calm, peace and a healing touch'', he said this was necessary as mischivous persons could always try to expand the area of the controversy. ''All should sit together and resolve the issue so as to stop the agitation, as it is always the innocent, the common man and the women who suffer from such protest demonstrations.'' Noting that the incident had its effect in Maharashtra also ,Mr Singhvi said it was a ''larger part of the failure of the Uttar Pradesh Government to maintain law and order.'' ''The state government should put the mischief-mongers behind bars and prevent loss to property,'' he said.

UNI YS VD GC1850