Scores barge into Indu Mills,instal Ambedkar bust

Monks stay put,say they will not leave statues alone.

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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram