Pavagada: Members of the Valmiki community held a protest on Friday in front of the Tahsildar’s office in Koratagere, voicing their strong opposition to the removal of a statue of Maharishi Valmiki. This action was taken by taluk administration and town panchayat officials, prompting significant outrage among community members.
The protest was led by Lokesh Palegar, president of the Valmiki Jagruti Vedike. Speaking passionately to the gathered crowd, he condemned the overnight removal of the statue, stating, “The act of removing the statue of Maharishi Valmiki, who introduced the Ramayana to the world, is completely unacceptable. This is an insult to our entire community.” His remarks underscored the deep cultural significance of Maharishi Valmiki, an esteemed figure in Indian history and literature.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Palegar pointed out that the statue was removed just a day before Valmiki Jayanti, a day of celebration for the community. He called for immediate intervention from the district in-charge minister and the Deputy Commissioner to ensure the statue and its nameplate are reinstated at the original location.
During the protest, a memorandum was submitted to Grade 2 Tahsildar Chandrashekar, outlining their demands and urging him to take action. The gathering included several prominent community leaders, such as Eranna, Bekari Nagaraj, Lakshminarayana, Auto Satti, Nagendra, Ashwath, Madakari Nayak, Bhaskar Nayak, Belli Batlu Balaram, Manjunath, Anantayya, and Bangepp, all of whom expressed their solidarity in the cause.
The removal of the Valmiki statue has sparked widespread outrage within the community, which views the incident as a deep disrespect to their cultural icon. Many attendees voiced their concerns about the potential implications of such actions on their heritage and identity.
The protestors are demanding immediate action from higher authorities to address the situation and restore the statue to its original position. The community believes that such symbols are integral to their cultural heritage and that any disrespect towards them is a matter of significant concern.
The protest at Koratagere serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural symbols and the role they play in community identity. As tensions rise over the removal of the Valmiki statue, the demands for reinstatement reflect a broader call for respect and recognition of cultural heritage. The outcome of this protest may set a precedent for how community concerns are addressed by local authorities in the future.