Desecration of Ajit Jogi’s statue days before inauguration sparks row

A life-size statue of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, the late Ajit Jogi, was on Monday (May 26, 2025) found desecrated and discarded on the premises of the Gaurela municipality office in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district. The statue, which was set for a formal inauguration soon, was removed from its place in Jyotipur square in Gaurela town, close to the late leader’s birthplace.

The incident sparked a protest from Jogi’s son and former MLA Amit Jogi and his supporters. They demanded that the statue be reinstalled at the very spot and strict action be taken against those behind the vandalism.

According to a police officer, the statue was removed using an earthmover around 2.30 a.m. by unidentified persons. A case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections concerning theft and dishonestly taking movable property out of someone’s possession without their consent, he added. 

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Amit Jogi said that the statue was to be unveiled on May 29, the fifth death anniversary of the deceased leader. “My father was a leader for the whole of Chhattisgarh and Jyotipur was his birthplace. Removing his statue has clearly hurt the sentiments of the people,” he said. 

In a Facebook post, Mr. Jogi also questioned the state of law and order in Chhattisgarh, putting the incident into perspective. “The statue is uprooted from the square and thrown in the garbage and the government-administration does not even get a clue. It is not Sushasan Tihaar [good governance festival, an outreach programme of the BJP government] but Sushasan Bimaar [unwell good governance] going on in the State,” he wrote.

Earlier, he, along with his supporters, staged a protest at the spot where the statue had been installed and threatened to go on a hunger strike if it was not reinstalled.

Around 6 p.m., Mr. Amit Jogi said that the statue was brought back to its original place and was in the process of being reinstalled.

Published - May 26, 2025 10:47 pm IST