Prakash Gajbhiye, president of the Nationalist Congress Party’s backward class cell, is disappointed over the state government’s delay in executing the memorial to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Indu Mill in Dadar (in pic) and the Shivaji statue project in the Arabian Sea. In an interview to Dhaval Kulkarni, Gajbhiye blamed the Congress for the lack of progress on these projects and suggested that it learn from Narendra Modi’s initiative on the statue of unity memorial to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Excerpts:

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Last year, you had threatened to take over the Indu Mill land by force if the Centre did not hand it over by December 6 for building a memorial to Dr Ambedkar. Now, while the land has been granted, no work has started on the memorial.The state has not been honest in its commitment and it is biding time. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s mahaparinirvan din (death anniversary), which is observed on December 6, is close, but nearly a year after the Centre cleared the land for the memorial there has been no development and this is saddening.

Will you again give the government an ultimatum to start work? The government must declare the obstacles it faces. Unfortunately, no one is willing to talk about this.

There is a perception that these issues are raised and re-ignited at the time of elections for political gains.It seems so. December 6 is only a month away. If not now, when will a decision be taken? This is the question the people of the state are asking.

What will be your next step?We are planning a protest on December 6. I have met representatives of bhikkus (Buddhist monks) and I am consulting people from the Ambedkar movement. We will meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar regarding this.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi has announced the construction of a statue of unity, a memorial to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It seems Gujarat has gone ahead of Maharashtra in this regard.There is no need to speak about Gujarat in so many words. It is understood. It is not just the memorial to Dr Ambedkar. The project for a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea has not got off the ground yet. Once the polls are announced and the code of conduct comes into force these projects will be kept in abeyance.

But the NCP is a partner in the state and central governments. Are you trying to evade responsibility?Ours is only one of the parties in the alliance... It was the NCP and not the Congress which put forward the demand first; our stance is clear.

So, you are pinning the blame on the Congress?The Congress alone is responsible for the delay. It must take decisions as soon as possible regarding the Ambedkar memorial and the Shivaji statue. It must take a leaf out of Modi’s book.