Jaipur, August 18: Days after the statue of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was vandalised in Rajasthan's Shahpura, the police arrested one person in connection with the case, said reports. The statue vandalised was situated in Mukherjee Circle in Shahpura town of Bhilwara district. Ram Madhav on Article 370: Martyrdom of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee for Complete Integration of Jammu and Kashmir Honoured.

Superintendent of Police, Bhilwara, HK Mahawar was quoted saying by news agency ANI that,"The statue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was broken by anti-social elements on August 11-12."

A case was registered on Monday against unidentified miscreants for vandalizing the statue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on Monday.

"The effigy of Mukherjee was vandalised by unidentified persons late night on Sunday. Teams have been formed to investigate the matter," Shahpura police station in-charge, Bhajan Lal had told ANI.

District collector Rajendra Bhatt, police officer Harendra Magawar and other officials had also conducted a recce of the area.

According to locals, the statue was vandalised after the abrogation of the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir. "Mukherjee was the first person to protest against the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This could be the reason why it was demolished," a local was quoted saying by ANI.

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was independent India’s first Minister of Industry and Supply. He was a passionate advocate for abolishing Article 370 and withdrawing the special status from Jammu and Kashmir as he believed that it was a hindrance in national integration. In 1951, Mookerjee had founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, considered the predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He died in a Srinagar jail on June 23, 1953.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2019 11:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).