Mayor inaugurates statue of Rani Kamlapati amidst uproar
   Date :17-Feb-2020

Mayor inaugurates statue
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Commotion reported between BJP and Congress corporators
 
Before inauguration of the statue, Congress Corporator Shabista Zaki and her supporters burnt effigy of Mayor Alok Sharma
 
 
RANI Kamlapati statue inauguration witnessed commotion between BJP and Congress corporators. The statue was inaugurated by Mayor Alok Sharma on Sunday which witnessed absence of Congress leaders and corporators. Mayor Alok Sharma, MLA Vishwas Sarang, MLA Krishna Gaur, MiC Chairman Surjeet Singh Chauhan and other senior leaders of BJP attended the function. From Congress, Corporator Girish Sharma and a few other Congress leaders were present.
 
Before inauguration of the statue, Congress Corporator Shabista Zaki and her supporters burnt effigy of Mayor Alok Sharma. Culture Minister Govind Sharma was supposed to be the chief guest of the ceremony. According to Congress corporators, Minister did not attend the function as they alleged that the statue has not been built with proper permission. Minister P C Sharma also missed the function as he was out of town, Mayor Alok Sharma said that Congress leaders by not coming to the inaugural event has insulted Rani Kamlapati, which is unfortunate.
 
Congress Corporator Monu Saxena alleged that Congress is not against the inauguration but unnecessarily the issue is being politicised because of BJP corporators. MiC Chairman Surjeet Singh Chauhan expressed happiness on inauguration and efforts of BJP corporator. Concerned over delay in inauguration of the Arch Bridge at Lower Lake, Mayor Alok Sharma staged protest this week for two days and he also claimed that houses in the approach road of the bridge needs to be cleared. Giving 72-hour ultimatum to the State Government, Mayor Alok Sharma warned to go ahead with inauguration of Arch Bridge and unveiling statue of Rani Kamalapati statue if the Government failed to do so within stipulated time. The Mayor, whose tenure ends on February 18, staged dharna on February 14 warning the Government to take immediate decision over inauguration of Arch Bridge at Lower Lake and statue of Rani Kamlapati near Kamla park. BJP District President Vikash Virani, Chairman of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) Surjit Singh Chauhan and other joined him in the protest.
 
For installing the statue, a platform has been made at the same place where the queen took Jal Samadhi. After statue of Raja Bhoj on Upper Lake was inaugurated in 2011, aim of establishing Rani Kamalapati is mainly to bring knowledge about history of pre-Nawab period of Bhopal. The 32-feet tall statue weighs 17,000 kg has 60 per cent copper, 20 per cent zinc, 10 per cent tin, 5 per cent lead and 5 per cent other metals. The statue is installed in middle of Arch Bridge and Rani Kamalapati Mahal being built on the Lower Lake. Depth of Lower Lake is about 30 feet. A 16-feet diameter platform and grand throne are being built inside the water. Attractive lighting will be done here and around Rs 2.66 crore is total cost on this entire project which also includes information on history of Rani Kamlapati.