BJP Bid to Make Ambedkar Hindutva Icon: Roy

CHENNAI: It is shameless that BJP leaders pretend to unveil Ambedkar statues, but boil down his teaching to make him a symbol of Hindutva,” said social activist Arundhati Roy, who was in the city to receive the Ambedkar Oli (Ambedkar Flame) Award conferred upon her by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

“They are using the very same tool that Babasaheb Ambedkar used to empower the Dalits and the oppressed classes by making reservation as the incentive for conversion and to make Dalits, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs join their fold,” she said, while hitting out at the party’s attempts to bait the oppressed classes.

While it has become fashionable to talk about corruption, Roy said that there is another intellectual corruption that is taking place where justice ignores caste - the cruelest form of social hierarchy. 

Other awardees were Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary K Ramakiruttinan, professor K Nedunchezhiyan, MMK’s MH Jawahirullah and also the late G K Moopanar, whose award was received by his cousin Ramanujam Moopanar. Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tamil, Thanjavur, Avvai Natarajan was awarded for his contribution to the arts.