PCMC decision to reserve land for police station behind Ambedkar memorial in Pimpri draws flak
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCM), Sawale said the move is a direct assault on the sentiments of Ambedkar followers and has warned of widespread public agitation if the decision is not revoked.
Bhimsrushthi Maidan—centrally located in Pimpri-Chinchwad— holds immense significance for Ambedkarites, serving as a focal point for faith, inspiration, and unity. The annual Ambedkar Jayanti is held here with week-long celebrations featuring processions, lectures, and cultural programmes that draw thousands of citizens. Beyond the Jayanti celebrations, the ground is a consistent venue for various social, political, and cultural gatherings, hosting numerous prominent personalities, said Sawale.
The standing committee chairperson emphasized that the ground is a living testament to the Ambedkar movement and the social fabric of Pimpri-Chinchwad. 'This is the only dedicated space in the city for Dr. Ambedkar's followers to pay homage to the great man,' said Sawale.
'The revised development plan is a conspiracy to snatch that away. Deliberately reserving land at this historical site for a police station is a gross insult to all Ambedkarites and a vile plot to prevent the celebration of Ambedkar Jayanti,' she said.
Sawale has demanded the immediate cancellation of all reservations on Bhimsrushthi Maidan, proposing instead that it be officially designated as 'Bhimsrushthi Maidan' in the development plan.
She warned that if the administration fails to comply, a powerful public movement will be launched pressing the PCMC to withdraw its decision.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Vaddiraju unveils Ambedkar statue in Singaram
Mahabubabad/Khammam: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra unveiled a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in Singaram village, Bayyaram Mandal of Mahabubabad district on Saturday. The event was marked with floral tributes, coconut offerings, and enthusiastic slogans from local residents and party supporters. Ravichandra recalled the recent installation of Ambedkar's bronze statue in his native village, Inugurthi, and called it a great privilege to now unveil another in Singaram. 'It is a matter of pride that our leader KCR built the magnificent state secretariat and named it after Dr. Ambedkar. He even urged the central government to name the new Parliament building in Delhi after Ambedkar,' the MP stated, on the occasion. Referring to a recent incident in Lingampet, Kamareddy district, where a Dalit BRS worker was allegedly beaten by police, Ravichandra said KTR personally visited his home and dined with the family, offering them strength and solidarity. He predicted that BRS will return to power within three years and cautioned Congress leaders, officials, and police officers to act responsibly, as power is never permanent.
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
‘Repeatedly insults OBC': BJP mocks Congress after Udit Raj calls Rahul Gandhi ‘second Ambedkar'
In a sharp criticism of the Congress party, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday accused the grand old party of repeatedly insulting the other backward classes (OBC) community, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who belongs to the same community. 'The most corrupt party held a conference on the OBC society yesterday. Rahul Gandhi himself has always insulted the OBC community and the Prime Minister, who comes from the OBC community. There are many serious charges against him, including corruption, and he is out on bail,' news agency ANI quoted Bhatia as saying. He also questioned the Congress leader's praise for leaders like Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, both of whom he said are facing corruption allegations. "Rahul Gandhi said that your ideals are sitting here. According to Rahul Gandhi, that ideal is Siddaramaiah, who is accused of the Muda scam. Bhupesh Baghel and his son are accused of many scams... The government has resolved to make the country corruption-free, but Rahul Gandhi says that those who are corrupt have the qualities to become leaders," Bhatia added. Congress leader Udit Raj on Saturday said that Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the 'second Ambedkar' for the OBCs if they listen to what he said during the 'Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan'. Raj compared Rahul to Babasaheb Ambedkar and said that the OBCs must support the statements made by the Leader of Opposition. "Caste census in Telangana is an X-ray of society. Rahul Gandhi aims to replicate it nationwide. His views are visionary. If Dalits and backward classes come forward, our economy will boost. The inequality that prevails in society will be reduced. If OBC understands what Rahul Gandhi said, he will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them," Raj told ANI. "OBCs will have to think that history does not give opportunities for progress again and again. They should follow and support what Rahul Gandhi said in the Talkatora Stadium conference. If they do so, then Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them," Raj posted on X. Senior BJP leader and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday also hit out at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of abandoning political decorum and showing frustration at PM Modi's rise from humble beginnings to global leadership, as reported by ANI. Prasad said, "Their leader, Rahul Gandhi, has forgotten decency. There is a frustration that a leader born in a poor, backwards family has become the leader of the world today." The BJP leader further claimed that the Congress party is 'frustrated' by the fact that PM Modi 'has outnumbered the days of Indira Gandhi as PM', adding that Congress is uncomfortable with India's increasing global influence. Congress had on Friday organised the 'Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan', which was inaugurated by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The concluding address of the event was delivered by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the ANI report said. During this address, the Congress leader admitted that not conducting a caste census during the UPA government was a mistake and said he is now determined to correct it. Rahul said he had failed to understand the issues of the OBC community earlier, unlike those of Dalits, tribals, and women, where he claimed the Congress had done commendable work. 'I think about my work, where I did well and where I fell short, and I see two to three things. Land Acquisition Bill, MNREGA, Right to Food, Tribal Bill, and Niyamgiri struggle – all these things I did well. As far as the issues of tribals, Dalits, and women are concerned, I should get good marks there. I did good work,' he said.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi ‘can be second Ambedkar': Congress Dalit leader Udit Raj's appeal to OBCs gets ‘insult' retort from BJP
Congress leader Udit Raj's assertion that Rahul Gandhi could be 'the second Ambedkar' for OBCs has invited allegations from the BJP that he as insulted BR Ambedkar and the Dalit community. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, holds up a picture of BR Ambedkar during a recent event in Darbhanga, Bihar.(ANI File Photo) A prominent Dalit leader and a former MP from Delhi, Udit Raj in a post on X on Saturday appealed to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to 'think that history does not give opportunities for progress again and again'. He urged them to 'follow and support' Rahul Gandhi's recent assertions at a function at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on Friday. "If they (OBCs) do so, then Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them," Udit Raj's post read. BR Ambedkar, apart from being a globally respected constitutionalist, is widely seen as a catalyst for positive change for the Dalit community into which he was born. Also read | My mistake we couldn't get caste census done earlier, says Rahul Gandhi What was Udit Raj talking about? Udit Raj, in his X post, was purportedly referring to Rahul Gandhi's commitment to a caste census, and his admission of not understanding OBC issues earlier. 'I didn't protect the OBC community the way I should have,' Rahul Gandhi said at the function. The OBCs are widely estimated to be the largest group in India, though caste data has not been collected or revealed since the 1931 census. Rahul Gandhi has been pushing for it in recent years, and the government has committed to counting castes in the Covid-delayed census now scheduled to begin next year. Insulting Dalits and BR Ambedkar, says BJP But the BJP took exception to Udit Raj's mention of Dalit icon and globally renowned constitutionalist Ambedkar. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said as per an NDTV report: 'Insulting Dalits and BR Ambedkar has become the Congress' identity... Who insulted the 'original' Ambedkar? Who did not bestow the Bharat Ratna on him? Who did not let his Constitution be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir? Who spoke about Muslim reservation? Who said reservation is bad... Jawaharlal Nehru.' He was further quoted as saying, 'They want to become a second Ambedkar, not Nehru or Indira Gandhi? This means the Gandhi family is admitting Nehru and Indira Gandhi were on the wrong path.' Rahul Gandhi in his Friday speech had claimed, 'As far as the issues of tribals, Dalits, and women are concerned, I should get good marks there. I did good work.' He listed the Land Acquisition Bill, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Right to Food, and some others as 'things I did well'. 'But one shortcoming remained in the Congress party and my work: I didn't protect the OBC community the way I should have,' news agency ANI quoted him as saying. 'The reason is that I did not deeply understand the OBC issues at that time. Ten to 15 years ago, I understood the difficulties faced by Dalits. Their issues are visible, they are easily understood, but the problems of OBCs remain hidden,' he said. 'If I had known about your issues and problems at that time, I would have conducted a caste-based census right then. That was my mistake, which I am going to correct,' he promised.
