Thousands throng Ambedkar Memorial

Earlier,the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a plea from the Mayawati government seeking permission to undertake maintenance and cleaning work at the premises in view of Sunday’s function.

This is the second time the memorial was thrown open to the public after the Supreme Court had stopped all activity inside memorials on September 12. The state government,thereafter,had barred the public from entering the memorial.

The memorial was first opened on September 17,when Chief Minister Mayawati laid the foundation of Kanshiram Green Eco Garden near the Kanshiram Memorial.

Mayawati,who reached the venue around 10.30 am,paid a floral tribute to Dr Ambedkar at the auditorium. She spent over 15 minutes there.

She was accompanied by senior officials including Chief Secretary Atul Gupta,Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and DGP Karamvir Singh.

Most of the visitors who came from Lucknow and adjacent districts like Barabanki and Sitapur,said they reached the state capital after receiving a message from the local leaders of the ruling BSP.

“I received a message from my district president Ratan Lal Gautam on Saturday to bring all party supporters,” said Sant Ram Gautam,BSP Sector President of Surat Block in Barabanki district. “I passed the message among our people. The vehicle was made available to us by Saturday evening.”

Ram Kumar,convener of the Bahujan Volunteer Force (BVF) in Lucknow’s Itaunja area,said he received the message to reach Lucknow on Saturday.

Santosh Kumar,a resident of Allunagar in Digoria on IIM-L road,said the BSP supporters were mobilised by Rakesh Gautam,the local member of the Block Development Council.

Ram Kumar,president of BSP’s Aishbagh area of Lucknow,said the party district unit held a meeting of the party workers on November 4.

“The plan to come to Lucknow was discussed at the meeting. The final message came to me on Saturday,” he added.