Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the union social justice ministry had also written to the state government a month ago stating that it wished to purchase the Rs34-crore property where Ambedkar stayed during 1921-22 while he was studying in London School of Economics.
The state finance department is reportedly against the purchase of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's London home. The department is said to have told the state government that it didn't have right to purchase a property outside the country.
"Such matters are dealt by the union government not the state government," the finance department is said to have told the social justice department, which is overseeing the purchase work and is to get the papers of the property in its name by May-end.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the union social justice ministry had also written to the state government a month ago stating that it wished to purchase the Rs34-crore property where Ambedkar stayed during 1921-22 while he was studying in London School of Economics.
It has now emerged that ignoring the Centre's letter and the finance department's advice, the state has gone ahead with the purchase in order to woo Dalit voters ahead of the civic polls.
With no funds in hand, the state went ahead to withdraw Rs40 crore from Mahatma Phule Dalit Development Corporation to ink the deal in haste.
Rajkumar Badole, social justice minister, was unavailable for comments.
"A significant portion of the deal money has already been deposited with London based solicitor Simon Ross, which includes their fee worth Rs3.1 crore. Moreover, finance, law and judiciary departments were part of consultation process since beginning and no objections were raised then. Also, Centre has assured us that they would facilitate the transfer through external affairs ministry and embassy in London," said an official of social justice department trashing down the concerns.
He also insisted that the London home will be registered in state government's name in the next few days.
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