Ambedkar memorial work to be speeded up, says PM

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Saturday led a delegation of prominent Dalits and Mumbaikars to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to expedite the process of handing over the Indu Mills land for a proposed Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial, an official here said.

Chavan apprised the prime minister of the hurdles in the long-pending issue from various ministries and the sentiments of the people of the state, especially Dalits.

He urged the prime minister to direct all concerned ministries to expedite the procedure since the memorial would not be used for any commercial purposes.

The prime minister reportedly reiterated that he would stand by his earlier assurance to hand over the land for the memorial.

"Babasaheb Ambedkar is the father of the constitution and we shall do everything to construct the memorial. All the hurdles shall be overcome," Manmohan Singh said.

He added that a Congress Party delegation led by state chief Manikrao Thakre had submitted a memorandum to him on the issue Friday night. The prime minister promised to take up the matter with the textile and environment ministries to expedite the process after returning to New Delhi.

Besides Chavan, the delegation included Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Ambedkar's grandson Anandraj Ambedkar, Republican Party of India leaders Ramdas Athavle and Rajendra Gawai, Mumbai Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad, state ministers Naseem Khan, Varsha Gaikwad, Chandrakant Handore, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sachin Aher and other Congress and Dalit leaders.