BJP's rath yatra to mark 100 yrs of Ambedkar's visit to Nippani

Bengaluru: The state BJP is set to launch a four-day rath yatra - Bhima Hejje Noorara Sambhrama - here on Friday. 

It will conclude at Nippani in Belagavi district on April 14, to commemorate 100 years of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, visiting Nippani in 1925.

BJP state vice president N Mahesh told reporters here on Wednesday that Dr Ambedkar had visited Nippani on April 10 and April 11 in 1925, to organize the Dalits and other oppressed classes, by presiding over the Bahishkruta Hitakarini Sabha.

“The Sabha had demanded that the then government should establish hostels and schools for the oppressed classes in the country,” he said. 

To commemorate the historic event, BJP will host a similar Bahishkruta Hitakarini Sabha at Nippani on April 14, Mahesh said. 

Taking a dig at the ruling Congress in the state, he said, “The Congress made all arrangements to celebrate 100 years of the AICC session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi in Belagavi. The Congress government, which talks about Dr Ambedkar at the drop of a hat, has forgotten to celebrate the 100th year of his visit to Nippani”.

“BJP MLA from Nippani Shashikala Jolle had urged the Congress government to take steps to celebrate the occasion. But the government ignored the request,”  he said.

The BJP has taken steps to honour Dr Ambedkar at every opportunity. So, the party has organised the rath yatra to create awareness about Ambedkar’s contribution to the country as well as for the upliftment of the oppressed classes, Mahesh said.

The march commences on April 11 with the garlanding of Dr Ambedkar’s statue in front of the Vidhana Soudha. It reaches Chitradurga the same evening. 

It will be in Hubballi-Dharwad on April 12 and Belagavi on April 13.

The yatra concludes on April 14 at Nippani, where a massive convention will be held.