Decision to install Shaktiman's statue final: Harish Rawat

Dehradun, Jul 14: A day after the sudden removal of a statue of police horse Shaktiman by authorities kicked up a row, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday said the decision to install the statue at Rispana chawk and renaming the place after the horse was final.

A statue designed in a better way will be installed at an appropriate time, he told reporters here, asking people not to read too much into the removal of the statue within a few days after being installed at the place where the police horse was injured during a BJP demonstration near state Assembly in March.

Removal of Shaktiman statue had sparked a buzz that Rawat, who was to unveil it shortly, had decided otherwise after being advised by soothsayers that the statue of a horse without a rider could bring bad luck to his government. [Police horse Shaktimaan's statue erected, later removed]

Terming the decision to withdraw the horse's statue as personal, Rawat said it will be done at an appropriate time. BJP reacted by saying the abrupt removal of the statue on the advice of pundits proves the CM is "superstitious".

"A superstitious CM cannot do anything for the development of his state," Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt said. Shaktiman who died of injuries sustained during a BJP protest had led to a political crisis in the state in March with a BJP MLA arrested in connection with the incident and nine rebel Congress MLAs revolting against the CM.

PTI