CMs memorial event gets cancelled as Prakash Ambedkar expressed his views on memorial, while Opposition leaders expressed their resentment too
@RishikeshChava9
Mumbai: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was supposed to lay the foundation stone of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue in Indu Mill Memorial. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s grand-nephew Anandraj Ambedkar was invited, whereas, Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar was not, leading to considerable resentment amongst followers of Dr B R Ambedkar. Only 16 distinguished guests were invited prompting the opposition leaders to express their resentment regarding staging of the event.
With the state administration failing to extend the invitation to Prakash Ambedkar, the VBA leader cleared his stance over his political views regarding Ambedkar’s Statue. Few moments later the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) cancelled the event and the event quickly turned political.
Speaking to newspersons later, Prakash Ambedkar said “Instead of building a memorial create something profitable architecture for people”. “I oppose the memorial instead of building just a statue a Buddhist Thinking Centre should be built. I am also not interested in going to the Indu Mill’s memorial program” he added.
Meanwhile, RPI Athawale faction leader and Union Minister for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said “State Government not inviting Dalit movement leader to the memorial event is not a good thing.” “Maharashtra Government is doing politics in the name of Babasaheb’s Memorial” he added.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said “Dr. Ambedkar’s memorial work was inaugurated under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016″. “Despite Political rivalry I believe every opposition leader should have been invited to this event” he added.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Gangadhare said “PM Modiji and BJP government had first taken the initiative of building Babasaheb Ambedkar’s memorial statue”. “Former chief minister, leaders of opposition in the state legislature, nobody was invited in this event which is why the event was an administrative failure” he added.
