The heritage building was demolished last month by the trust, which plans to construct a multi-storey building there operating as central headquarters for the weaker section.
With the Opposition parties uniting against the decision of demolishing Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar, the government representatives on Tuesday assured in Rajya Sabha that the heritage building will be restored and reconstructed. They, however, denied the BJP-run state government's role in carrying out the demolition and blamed the People's Improvement Trust (PIT) that managed the building.
The heritage building was demolished last month by the trust, which plans to construct a multi-storey building there operating as central headquarters for the weaker section.
CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury alleged the involvement of the state administration, including the municipal authority, in demolishing the structure built by Dalit icon BR Ambedkar himself.
"The state government and the municipality have not just demolished a heritage structure, but a building that represents the heritage of freedom movement and of the Dalit movement," said Yechury.
The land on which the building stood was purchased by Ambedkar. He used his own resources to construct the building, which served as redressal centre for aggrieved Dalits. It also housed a printing press for publishing Dalit literature.
BSP leader Mayawati also endorsed Yechury's view and said while the government was talking about buying and converting the room where Ambedkar lived in London into a museum, it demolished a building that Ambedkar had constructed from his own funds.
The government, however, denied its role in the demolition. BJP MP Amar Shankar Sable said, "The state government was not involved in the demolition of the building and it was done by the People's Improvement Trust."
The Central government, however, assured the House that a new Ambedkar Memorial will replace the Bhavan. "It is a serious issue and we have taken cognizance. The Centre is in touch with the state government and attempts are being made to restore the memorial," said Thawar Chand Gehlot, minister for social justice and empowerment.
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