Two cabinet ministers of the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government are engaged in a battle to take credit for the purchase of a London bungalow in which Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had stayed.
Two cabinet ministers of the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government are engaged in a battle to take credit for the purchase of a London bungalow in which Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had stayed.
On Wednesday, social justice minister Rajkumar Badole called an urgent press conference at Mantralaya and spoke about the purchase of the bungalow, its purchase cost and administrative procedures needed to carry the purchase through.
Some of the BJP ministers support Badole's move. "(Education and culture minister Vinod) Tawde is virtually taking full credit of the decision about purchase of the property where the Dalit icon stayed, which left some senior ministers uncomfortable. This should have been avoided," said a senior BJP minister, justifying Badole's attempt to assert his position as social justice minister.
Interestingly, the decision to buy the bungalow was already announced by Tawde on January 23, while the latter was visiting London to attend an international conference. On returning to Mumbai, Tawde had also held a press conference and his office sent out press releases to media houses sharing with them other details of the London property purchase.
According to sources, the government recently formed a committee under the chairmanship of Badole to streamline the process of the purchase. Tawde is reportedly not a member of this committee, so as to avoid further tensions between the two senior ministers.
The 2,050 sq feet, three-story bungalow in London is valued at Rs 29 crore, but the final cost could amount to Rs38 crore including registration and legal costs. Dr. Ambedkar stayed at the bungalow situated on 10, King Henry Road, NW3, in 1921-22, while pursuing higher studies at the London School of Economics. The bungalow would be converted into a museum-cum-memorial by the Maharashtra government.
The matter, pending for almost six months, was fast-tracked last month by education minister Tawde, who was in London to attend various conferences. Tawde visited the bungalow and met representatives of the Federation of Ambedkarites & Buddhist Organisations (FABO) and other Indian officials to finalise the deal for the building of historical importance.
While Tawde was unreachable, Badole brushed off the tussle. "There is no tussle between Tawde and me. He was there in London so he handled the case," Badole said.
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