Mayawati unveils more Ambedkar parks

Apparently emboldened by the Supreme Court’s permission to the Ambedkar Park in Noida, UP chief minister Mayawati inaugurated two new parks dedicated to Dr BR Ambedkar on his anniversary in Lucknow on Monday. She also inaugurated eight other projects, including a bridge in Agra, named after Ambedkar.

The two parks are spread over an area of about 20 acres each and together cost Rs150 crore, official sources said. The inauguration of two more parks in the name of Ambedkar are seen as the feisty Dalit icon’s unique way of hitting back at political opponents who have often criticised her for “wasteful” expenditure on parks, statues and memorials dedicated to Dalit leaders.

Mayawati made full use of the opportunity at hand to justify the mega projects dedicated to Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and other Dalit icons. “Memorials, museums, park, galleries, crossings and statues in the name of great Dalit leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar would serve as an inspiration for the coming generation,” Mayawati said after inaugurating the new projects.

The BSP chief made oblique references to the Congress without naming it. “It is not because of the parties which have ruled the country for a long time that the backward and deprived classes got reservation in education and government jobs. This was an achievement of Dr BR Ambedkar,” she said.

“Dr Ambedkar made several provisions in the constitution to ensure that Dalits get social justice and a life of dignity,” she added.