A complaint has been filed by legal activism organization Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) against the proposed installation of Tipu Sultan statue at Proddutur Town in Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh.
The complaint pointed out the Supreme Court judgement which states that installation of statues at public places is illegal.
The Transport, Roads & Buildings Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh had also issued an order in 2013 in abidance of the Supreme Court’s judgement in which it said that the Government hereby has decided to not given permission for installation of any statue or construction of any structure in public roads, pavements, sideways, etc.
“Hence, the proposed construction of the statue at Produttur town is a clear violation of the G.O. No. 18 and tends to the contempt of the Supreme Court’s orders.” the complaint by LRPF noted.
It was reported that the Member of Legislative Assembly from Proddutur Constituency R. Shiva Prasad Reddy had earlier performed special prayers at Maidukur Road-Jinnah Road Junction, the site where the statue is proposed to be installed. Local Muslims had approached the legislator with the proposal.
The Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP has warned of protests and demolition of the structure if built. It has said that the move could cause communal tension in the area and has instead asked for the statue of Abdul Kalam be built.
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