CM Devendra Fadnavis declares state honours to Dr B R Ambedkar

Lakhs of Ambedkar followers congregate at Dadar’s Chaityabhoomi every year on December 6, which is observed as Mahaparinirvan Din. To manage the rush, the government has decided to run eight special trains- six along Central Railway and two along Konkan Railway.

Fadnavis, who presided over a meeting to review preparations for the day, also announced that as a mark of respect to Dr Ambedkar, his government will shower flowers on Chaityabhoomi from a helicopter. On the day, the government will also bring out advertisements recounting Dr Ambedkar’s contribution in leading newspapers, the CM said.

While Dalit activists, who remained present at the meeting, had also demanded that December 6 be declared as a government holiday, the CM argued that the government has been declaring holidays on birth anniversaries of inspirational leaders. He argued that declaring a holiday on Dr Ambedkar’s death anniversary would set a precedent.

The activists further sought Fadnavis to declare it a “dry day” on December 6. Fadnavis asked his officials to examine its feasibility.

Last week, several Dalit activists and supporters had taken to streets in Mumbai, participating in two separate morchas-one staged by RPI leader Ramdas Athavale and another by Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash, protesting against rise in Dalit atrocities.