By Matters India Reporter
Kanpur: The Gandhians of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh have expressed shock and dismay after authorities kept the enclosure of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue locked on January 30, the Mahatma’s martyrdom day.
They sat in protest on the dirty pavement outside the enclosure and raised slogans of “Shame, shame” against the government. The gate was unlocked after a Gandhian contacted the district magistrate, “thereby avoiding what could have turned out into an ugly and embarrassing situation,” said chhotebhai, vice president of the Kanpur chapter of Gandhi Peace Foundation.
The statue is situated in the central Phoolbagh (Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Udyan), which was earlier known as Queen’s Park, in Kanpur, the industrial hub of Uttar Pradesh. It has been the location for many public meetings and political rallies in Kanpur from the early twentieth century.
A few years ago the Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) took over the public space and converted it into a paid entry park. However, on the insistence of the Gandhi foundation, the KDA made Gandhi’s statue area into a separate enclosure. The KDA also assured unrestricted entry to the enclosure and agreed to develop the enclosure with a proper entrance gate.
The Gandhi foundation and other social organizations continued to use the enclosure as a rallying point for various public causes. The enclosure was always open on Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2 and his martyrdom day, chhotebhai explained.
After the gate was opened, Gandhians entered the enclosure and paid their homage to the Father of the Nation. They criticized the closure as a great disservice to the Mahatma. The Gandhians plan to register their protest with the district authorities.
Speakers said that today democracy was in peril and all true citizens needed to unite to fight fascist and majoritarian forces. They also condemned the government’s mishandling of the farmer’s agitation in Delhi, especially on Republic Day
The meeting ended with the all-religion prayer that included the prayer of St Francis of Assisi “Make Me a Channel of your Peace.”