A series of programmes across the nation marked 124th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, as political parties vied to claim the legacy of the political icon and main architect of Indian constitution.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is presently in Germany, paid tributes to the leader who was a tall figure of India's freedom movement, the first law minister of India and the principal architect of Indian constitution.The day started with top leaders including President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and several MPs paying tributes to the leader in parliament complex.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress held a series of events across the country, in a sort of competition to claim Ambedkar's legacy.Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, who has made Ambedkar an icon for her party and the dalit community, lashed out at BJP and Congress, saying both were trying to get dalit votes.
Modi paid tributes to the Ambedkar, and tweeted: "Let us pledge to dedicate ourselves to creating India that Ambedkar dreamt of...an India that will make him proud.""Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a yug purush (man of the era) who lives in the hearts and minds of crores of Indians... Who can forget Dr. Ambedkar's contribution in the making of our Constitution? He served the nation and the people tirelessly and selflessly," it added. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also greeted people on Ambedkar anniversary.Describing the architect of the Indian Constitution as a "great icon of modern India", Sonia Gandhi said: "Ambedkar accomplished for the nation in a lifetime, progressive changes that take centuries to achieve."
Former home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, a prominent dalit leader, was sent by Sonia Gandhi to Ambedkar's birthplace Mhow, a cantonment in the Madhya Pradesh's Indore district to mark the day.
Shinde said the leader was not just a representative of dalits but of all sections of the society."He was the architect of Indian Constitution and leader of all sections of the society." BJP used the day to launch its election campaign through a massive rally in Bihar. Te party's ideological guide Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has planned a special edition of their mouthpiece magazine - The Organiser - on his life.Congress, which has constituted a special committee for planning celebrations through the year till Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary, accused BJP of using Ambedkar's name for dalit votes."No political party especially the BJP can usurp the ideologies of this foremost social reformer merely to increase their Dalit vote bank," said Congress leader P.C. Chacko in New Delhi.
"Baba Saheb was and will always remain revered and remembered as a Congressman and his visions of social inclusion will always remain the motto of the Indian National Congress," he said at an event jointly organised by National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and Bhagwan Valmiki foundation. It was attended by Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and Digvijay Singh.BJP said vision of great leaders like Ambedkar is for the nation and not any family's property.Asked about the reason behind a competition over Ambedkar's legacy, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra here told IANS: "Great leaders like these are not a property of a family or a political party...their vision is for the nation and the humanity."Mayawati, meanwhile, lashed out at the Congress and the BJP, accusing them of insulting Ambedkar."They (political parties) always resented Ambedkar. They are engaged in drama to out do each other in celebrating Ambedkar's anniversary..." Mayawati told workers, adding that all parties used Dalits as a vote bank and never worked for their welfare.
Her party's arch rival in Uttar Pradesh, ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) bowled a political googly by announcing December 6 -- the death anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar -- as a public holiday.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav garlanded the statue of the Dalit icon in the state assembly premises in Lucknow and paid floral tributes at an urn carrying Ambedkar's ashes and kept at the Ambedkar Mahasabha office.Ambedkar was a jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination against dalits, women and labour.