Mumbai: On Dalit icon BR Ambedkar's 55th death anniversary on Thursday, lakhs of people are expected to converge at the Indu Mills in Mumbai to celebrate the Centre's move to install an Ambedkar memorial there. This land faces the sea and is right next to Chaitya Bhoomi, where Ambedkar's ashes have been interred.
However, BSP supremo Mayawati appeared unimpressed with only the 12.5 acre mill land being earmarked for the memorial and wanted more land to be allotted while Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan called as "historic" the decision. The announcement which met a long pending demand of several political parties in Maharashtra came on the eve of Ambedkar's 55th death anniversary.
The ashes of Babasaheb Ambedkar are interred at Chaitya Bhoomi, situated in the vicinity of the 12.5 acre land of India United Mill, popularly known as Indu Mill, under the National Textile Corporation at Prabhadevi in central Mumbai. Dalit outfits had set December 6 as the deadline for the state to decide on the issue, failing which they threatened to forcibly occupy the mill premises.
Sharma said the decision was taken respecting public sentiments and in response to the request of the Maharashtra government and taking note of the unanimous resolution passed by both Houses of Maharashtra Legislature. "If the government allocates 12-13 acres of land for it, it would not be sufficient for the memorial. For such a grand memorial for Ambedkar, at least 30-40 acres of land would be required. In 12-13 acres, no grand memorial can be built," she told reporters outside Parliament House.
With Additional Inputs from PTI
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