Record rise in people coming from UP, Bihar to pay homage to Ambedkar.
The political leadership was absent. And yet, the undercurrents of a strong Dalit movement were felt in the city on Sunday. Ten lakh Dalits from all over India converged at Chaityabhoomi, Dadar, to pay tribute to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his 53rd death anniversary.
With Dalit leaders, such as Ramdas Athavale [RPI] and Prakash Ambedkar [Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh], still recovering from the setbacks suffered in the recent polls, mainstream parties like the Congress and the BJP tried to make their presence felt among the Dalits. Chief minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress, deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and home minister RR Patil [both NCP] and Gopinath Munde [BJP] were there at Chaityabhoomi, with Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar, and Athavale.
Athavale, who under the banner of the third front has failed to win even a single seat in the assembly elections, renewed his pledge to fight for the Dalit unity. His rival, Prakash Ambedkar, took the same vow on a separate platform. But the huge crowds did not seem to take much notice. Having paid their homage to Babasaheb, they wandered through the streets of Mumbai like tourists, visiting places like the Gateway, Haji Ali, Girgaum chowpatty and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
This time, there was a record growth in the number of Dalits coming from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Maximum of those who came from within the state, were from Vidarbha and Marathwada.
Prakash Ambedkar said, “The strong presence of people from distant states clearly shows that BR Ambedkar’s ideology is being accepted across the nation, and by the GenNext.”
Tushar Jagtap, president of Ambedkar Medicos Communique, said, “The enthusiasm among the Dalits, who voluntarily assembled at Chaityabhoomi, gives hope of a better tomorrow. They have rejected the existing Dalit leadership, which has failed to live up to their expectations. They are agitated as they have been let down by the system. But the massive crowd at Chaityabhoomi proves that they have not lost heart. They are ready for the bigger battle ahead. And their inspiration remains Dr Ambedkar.”
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}