Days before its unveiling, statue of Chhattisgarh’s first CM removed from its spot; FIR registered

When the incident came to light on Monday morning, workers of the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) party reached the spot, along with Ajit Jogi’s son Amit Jogi, and held a protest.

Amit Jogi told The Indian Express, “Damaging the statue of late Ajit Jogi ji and throwing it in the garbage is a betrayal of the pride of Chhattisgarh and the people of Gaurela, his birthplace. It was a seven-tonne statue. We found it, but it has been damaged. We are getting it repaired and will reinstall it by Tuesday. It will be unveiled on my father’s death anniversary.”

“I have no idea who has done this, but there is CCTV footage which has captured the incident, and the culprits should be identified and punished for it,” he said.

On May 22, the local municipality issued a notice to a contractor for allegedly installing the statue illegally. Government officials on Monday refused to comment on the matter, saying it is under investigation.

Amit Jogi said he had no information on such a notice served by the municipality. “But… I am a lawyer and I can say without doubt that the land where the statue was being installed is owned by a private person who has no objection,” he said.

In 2000, when Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, Ajit Jogi, then a Congress leader, became the chief minister. In June 2016, Jogi parted ways with the Congress and formed his own party. He died in May 2020.