Cong to start campaign for installation of Ambedkar statue in HC
Bhopal: State Congress will hold a three-day Jan Jagaran public awareness campaign on the controversy over the installation of Dr BR Ambedkar's statue in the Gwalior high court premises.
On June 23, Congress workers will go door-to-door speaking to people about the controversy. The next day, they will hold a community feast in poor settlements, and on June 25, the party leadership will observe a hunger protest in Gwalior.
Over the last few months, there was a dispute over the installation of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar's statue in the Gwalior high court premises. While some lawyers supported the installation, others maintained a distance on the issue.
The Congress party, meanwhile, was running a campaign for the installation of the statue.
On Tuesday morning, a joint press conference was held at the state Congress office, addressed by Madhya Pradesh affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary, PCC chief Jitu Patwari, LOP Umang Singhar, former chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, and MLA Phool Singh Baraiya.
Congress stated that not permitting the installation of the statue in the Gwalior high court premises means denying Dr BR Ambedkar's contribution to the framing of the Constitution.
Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said, "The decision to make Baba Saheb the chairman of the Constituent Assembly was taken on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, so that the oppressed class gets representation. BN Rao was only an advisor, not a member of the Constituent Assembly.
It is wrong to deny Baba Saheb's contribution in his name. RSS burnt the Constitution and opposed the tricolour, now it is opposing Baba Saheb's statue and his contribution.
BJP's silence and double character is clear in this matter." Posters in Gwalior claimed that Dr Ambedkar was not the real framer of the Constitution.
Congress party Madhya Pradesh affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary said, "It is unfortunate to create a controversy over the installation of Baba Saheb's statue in the Gwalior High Court premises. Under a well-planned conspiracy, the contribution of the maker of the Constitution is being questioned.
Such controversies are starting from the Nagpur headquarters of the RSS. Congress will strongly put its point of view among the public on this issue and will protect the honour of Baba Saheb.
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State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged, "In Madhya Pradesh, BJP and RSS are conspiring to insult Baba Saheb. In Gwalior, through posters, it is being propagated that Baba Saheb was not the architect of the Constitution.
Congress will run a massive public awareness campaign in honour of Baba Saheb and the Constitution from June 23 to 25."
LOP Umang Singhar argued, "BJP and RSS are trying to change the history of the country and promote class struggle. Baba Saheb is being targeted because he belonged to the Dalit class. Congress's policy is to take all classes along, while BJP divides the society for votes."
Reacting to the Congress' allegation, state BJP president VD Sharma said, "History is witness that Congress and Nehru family have always been against Bharat Ratna Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
This is the same family party which not only insulted Baba Saheb while he was alive, but also did injustice to his ideas even after his death. Instead of running a three-day public awareness campaign on Baba Saheb from June 23, Congress should hold an apology march and fast for the anti-Baba Saheb act.
The anti-Baba Saheb and anti-Constitution Congress party is doing drama to create class conflict in Madhya Pradesh."
Sharma further said, "Digvijay Singh, Jeetu Patwari, Umang Singhar and Phool Singh Baraiya should apologise unconditionally to the people of the entire country for the ill-treatment of Babasaheb Ambedkar by the Congress party under Jawaharlal Nehru. It is BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that are working to develop the places associated with Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar as Panch Teerth to take his ideas forward.
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