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Mumbai: Not unknown to controversies, Nationalist Congress Party, Sharad Pawar faction (NCP-SP) faction MLA, Dr Jitendra Awhad has courted a fresh one recently. In an apparent bid to protest against the controversial Hindu text Manusmriti, the NCP leader in the heat of the moment while burning the copy of the controversial book, tore down the portrait of Dr B R Ambedkar. As the news of the incident spread like wildfire, it evoked sharp reactions from the Dalit community leaders. Some have lodged police complaints against Awhad.
According to our local correspondent, prominent Dalit activists in Mahad while reacting to the incident remarked that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had once burnt the Manusmriti symbolizing the hardline regressive mindset, the time has come to once again denounce that very mindset.
Dr Awhad in an apparent bid to denounce that regressive mindset at Mahad’s Kranti Chowk, tore apart the portrait of Dr B R Ambedkar. Although, NCP-SP leader has apologized for the incident, the Ambedkarite followers and population of Mahad (district Raigad) have denounced the act of Dr Awhad.
According to some eyewitness accounts, Dr Jitendra Awhad who after garlanding the bust of Dr B R Ambedkar and offering flowers, before burning the copy of Manusmriti had torn the portraits of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Dr Awhad soon realised the mistake and immediately tried to tender an apology. Meanwhile, sources disclosed that a case is being registered against the NCP-SP leader at Mahad police station.
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has announced the further escalation of the statewide agitation against Dr Awhad on May 30. He said that Dr Jitendra Awhad has caused insult to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar by tearing-up his portrait.
Meanwhile, state BJP leader Adv Vivekananda Gupta has filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Raigad under section 3 (t) (v) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act. Demanding the arrest of Dr Awhad, he said that the very act has deeply hurt the people, both mentally and emotionally.
