Scores barge into Indu Mills, instal Ambedkar bust
Express news service Posted online: Wed Dec 07 2011, 00:29 hrs
Mumbai : More than 500 followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar stormed the
India United Mills No 5 premises in Shivaji Park, Central Mumbai, on
Tuesday and claimed they had "taken possession" of a plot of land
which was to be allotted for construction of an international Ambedkar
memorial. While no arrests were made and most protesters left the site
by late afternoon, 12 monks and their attendants remained inside the
mill premises, refusing to leave a statue each of Buddha and Dr
Ambedkar they claimed they had installed at the site.
About 10.30 am, even as lakhs of Ambedkar followers from across the
state congregated at Chaityabhoomi in Shivaji Park where Dr Ambedkar
was cremated, protesters led by his grandson Anandraj Ambedkar broke
police barricades and clambered up the gate of the nextdoor mill owned
by the National Textile Corporation (NTC). Amid sloganeering, the
crowd broke the police cordon and entered the premises.
"We had to resort to a mild lathicharge in a bid to control the crowd.
We told those who gathered there that it was illegal to barge inside
the premises," said an officer. Additional Commissioner of Police
(Central Region) Vineet Agarwal said the crowd had to be contained in
order to avoid a law and order problem in the area. "We had to ensure
that tempers did not flare. Those who were gathered there were asked
to leave the premises," said Agarwal.
Anandraj Ambedkar, younger brother of Prakash Ambedkar and now leader
of the Republican Sena, insisted it was no political stunt and said
his agitation had been supported by Ambedkar followers from across
political parties. "The monks who are inside will not leave, they will
stay there until the Central government formally hands over the land
for the memorial," he said.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, speaking to reporters after paying
his respects at Chatyabhoomi on Tuesday morning, said the issue of the
memorial was pending at the Centre. "The state government fully backs
the proposal for an international memorial and education centre," he
said. Since Saturday, Nationalist Congress Party activist Vijay Kamble
has been on a fast at Chaityabhoomi with the same demand.
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment