Tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar across Maharashtra

The 124th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar today was observed with traditional fervour across Maharashtra.

In Mumbai, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today visited Chaitya Bhoomi, the memorial of Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar and offered floral tributes on the occasion.

A man inspects a locket with an image of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar for sale on his 124th birth anniversary near the historic Chaitya Bhoomi memorial in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

On the day, memorial speeches were delivered at special functions held in various parts of the state and prayers were offered to Babasaheb.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to micro blogging website Twitter to pay tributes to the dalit icon. "Salutations to the Father of Indian Constitution, A Visionary, Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on His BirthAnniversary!" Fadnavis tweeeted.

Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar also known as B R Ambedkar or 'Babasaheb' was born on April 14, 1891 at Mhow (Military Headquarter of War) in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district. He is known as the 'Father of Indian Constitution', the architect of Indian Constitution.

In Nashik, Mayor Ashok Murtadak and others paid tributes at city Municipal Corporation office by garlanding to Ambedkar's portrait.

In Amravati, Minister of State Industries and district guardian minister Pravin Pote, leaders of various parties and workers garlanded Ambedkar statues across the city.

At a function at Irwin Square, Pote announced a plan of beautification of Amravati Municipal Corporation with a budget of Rs 2.52 crore.

He also expressed pleasure that a memorial of the Dalit leader will come up at Indu Mills premises in Mumbai and also lauded the state government's move to purchase and convert the London-based house of Ambedkar into a monument.

The minister also inaugurated a photo exhibition on the times and life of Ambedkar.

In Gondia, Congress MLA Gopal Das Agrawal, NCP MLC Rajendra Jain and Zilla Parishad president Vijay Shivankar also paid floral tributes.

At a programme in Gondia yesterday, Maharashtra social justice minister Rajkumar Badole told PTI that the government has allocated a fund of Rs 3.5 crore and appointed a Solicitor for purchasing the house of Ambedkar in London.

"We are going to London on April 22 to complete the modalities. We are also trying to have Dr Ambedkar chair in London School of Economics," he said.