"Insult to India’s Democratic Legacy": Gaurav Gogoi Slams Vandalism of Nehru Statue in Assam

GUWAHATI: The President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Gaurav Gogoi, has strongly condemned the alleged vandalism of a statue of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at Poilapool in Lakhipur constituency of Cachar district.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gogoi said the act was not merely an instance of vandalism but an insult to the legacy of a leader who played a foundational role in shaping modern India. “Such an act does not merely destroy a statue; it insults the legacy of a great leader and distinguished freedom fighter who laid the foundation of modern India,” he said. He added that while political ideologies may differ, attempts to erase history or undermine democratic values through unlawful means are completely unacceptable.

According to local reports, the incident took place late at night in Lakhipur, which falls under the home constituency of Assam Minister Kaushik Rai. A group of unidentified miscreants allegedly arrived with an excavator and damaged the decades-old statue of Nehru situated at a prominent intersection in Poilapool. CCTV footage from a nearby shop is said to have captured the entire sequence of events, triggering widespread outrage in the area the following morning.

The Congress party has lodged a formal complaint at the local police station, demanding a thorough investigation and immediate arrest of those involved. Local Congress leaders alleged that the incident was carried out with the intent to disturb communal harmony and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of Lakhipur ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. They have given the administration a two-day ultimatum to identify and arrest the culprits, warning that failure to act would lead to large-scale protests across Lakhipur and the wider Cachar district.

Gogoi also criticised the state government for what he described as a “disturbing silence” over the incident. “The strength of India and Assam lies in upholding pluralism and democratic values — and we must safeguard them at all costs,” he said, urging authorities to ensure swift and strict action.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev has also reacted strongly to the development. Calling it a “shameful incident” for Cachar district, she has written to the District Commissioner seeking clarification on how such an act could take place and who was responsible. Dev demanded a comprehensive police probe and the immediate arrest of those involved, expressing concern over the law and order situation in the district.

Also Read: Congress Responsible For Infiltration Crisis: Himanta Biswa Sarma