3 men deface Delhi’s 'Akbar Road' sign with black paint, paste Maharana Pratap posters

Three men defaced the signboard of Akbar Road in Delhi on Thursday, alleging that authorities were ignoring the vandalism of Maharana Pratap’s statue at Kashmere Gate ISBT. The men sprayed black paint over the sign and pasted posters of Maharana Pratap while raising slogans of “Jai Bhavani.” The incident follows a viral video showing the statue’s sword and hand damaged.

Amit Rathore, one of the accused, demanded action against those responsible for the vandalism. “India will not tolerate the insult of Maharana Pratap. The police administration and the Delhi government are trying to suppress the incident that happened at ISBT Kashmere Gate. Those who are guilty should be arrested, and immediate action should be taken against them,” he said. Another accused, Vijay, stated that they were targeting signboards with names of historical figures like Akbar, Babur, and Humayun.

The men claimed that authorities had not taken adequate steps to address the damage to Maharana Pratap’s statue. They urged the police to arrest those responsible and called for a broader change in naming public places. “We are continuously removing signboards of invaders like Akbar, Babur, and Humayun, and we are trying to make the government open its eyes and take a decision,” Vijay said.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, clashes erupted in Nagpur on March 17 over demands to remove Aurangzeb’s grave. Nagpur Police arrested 50 people, including seven minors, in connection with the violence. Commissioner Ravinder Singal stated that legal action was being taken against those involved.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the issue in the state assembly, stating that law and order had been restored. “The investigation is underway in the Nagpur violence case. There is peace in the city at present. Some people deliberately spread rumors… We will be able to meet these challenges,” he said. Authorities continue to investigate both incidents.