Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that his government is working for the poorest of the poor in a mission mode, claiming "no regime has honoured Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar" like it has. He also hit out at political parties for "politicising" the Dalit icon's legacy.
Modi was speaking during the inauguration of Western Court Annexe here, a temporary residence for newly elected MPs and their guests. He said two places in Delhi associated with Ambedkar on whom the then Vajpayee government made crucial decisions were stalled later.
He criticised the previous UPA government and said it used Ambedkar's name for political gains but stalled an Ambedkar International Centre project. He said his government completed the central Delhi project.
The Central government will inaugurate a three-acre Ambedkar Memorial in north Delhi's Alipur on April 13, on the eve of the Dalit icon's birth anniversary. 26, Alipur Road near Delhi University was his last home. The house belonging to an industrialist was acquired by the Vajpayee government in 2003 and declared a national property.
The PM sought to address the anger of Dalits and said his government has given Ambedkar his rightful place by completing projects conceived in his memory.
"We are walking on the path shown by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. At the core of his ideals is harmony and togetherness. Working for the poorest of the poor is our mission," the PM said.
The PM's reachout to the community comes two days after 11 people were killed and hundreds injured as thousands of Dalits carried out violent protests across northern states against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act.
The protests had been organised on Monday against the Supreme Court's March 20 order that banned automatic arrests under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, and held that a court can grant anticipatory bail in case of false complaints.
Dalit organisations and some political parties, including Congress, have feared the "dilution" would spike violence against Dalits. The government moved the court on the day of clashes for the order's review — a move termed too late by the Opposition.
On Tuesday, the court refused to freeze its decision and said its intention was to protect individual rights. The court will continue hearing the case.
The PM's comment's also come amid reports of Ambedkar's statues being vandalised in several states.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Narendra Modi-PTI")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}