RPI threatens to acquire Ambedkar memorial land forcibly

Mrashtra CM requests leaders not to make it a political issue

The Republican Party of India (Athawale) has threatened to forcibly take over land at the defunct India United (Indu) Mill at the Shivaji Park, if the Centre does not make a formal announcement regarding construction of a memorial for Babasaheb Ambedkar before December 6, his death anniversary.

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan met Union Commerce and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma for the second time in the past week to finalise the modalities of land transfer from the National Textile Corporation that owns 12.5 acres of vacant land in the Indu Mill compound.

Soon after the meeting, Chavan told reporters in New Delhi: “An all-party delegation had met the prime minister last year and he had announced an in-principle approval for a memorial on the Indu Mill land. So, a memorial will be constructed.

The textile ministry had set up a high powered committee for the land transfer. After completion of some technicalities, the committee’s recommendations will be implemented.”

Chavan appealed leaders of Dalit parties to show restraint in the matter. “Nobody should use the memorial issue for political gains and try to take credit for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, anticipating violence, Mumbai Police have been strengthening security at the mill and surrounding areas at Shivaji Park. On December 6, over two lakh Dalits are expected to visit the Ambedkar memorial at Chaityabhoomi.

However, Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale said: “I had met Anand Sharma and Sharad Pawar on November 30, and the minister had assured that the decision to transfer the 12.5 acre land will be announced in Parliament on December 4 or 5.  

“We will wait to see if they announce it. If they don’t...then our activists will storm the Indu Mills premises. Let the police do whatever they need to do to stop us. We will go ahead with our programme,” Athawale said.

On December 6 last year, Dalit activists and monks led Ambedkar’s grandson Anandraj Ambedkar and RPI had forcibly entered the Indu Mill premises and erected a makeshift memorial. The groups vacated the premises after Chavan promised to take up the issue with the Centre.