Decks have been cleared by theCentre to transfer prime Indu Mill land in Mumbai toMaharashtra government for constructing a memorial to B RAmedkar, meeting a long pending demand of several politicalparties in the state.
"The Government of India has taken a view to makeavailable this land for use to the Government of Maharashtrafor the construction of a befitting memorial," TextilesMinister Anand Sharma said in identical statements in the LokSabha and the Rajya Sabha today.
The ashes of Babasaheb Ambedkar are interred at ChaityaBhoomi, situated in the vicinity of the 12.5 acre land ofIndia United Mill, popularly known as Indu Mill, under theNational Textile Corporation at Prabhadevi in central Mumbai.
"The government has initiated the process to give effectto this decision and I will be shortly be moving the necessarylegislative proposal for Parliamentary approval. I seek thesupport and endorsement of the House," Sharma said.
Dalit outfits had set December 6, Ambedkar's deathanniversary, as the deadline for the state to decide on theissue, failing which they threatened to forcibly occupy themill premises.
Sharma said the decision was taken respecting publicsentiments and in response to the request of the Maharashtragovernment and taking note of the unanimous resolution passedby both Houses of Maharashtra Legislature.
Sharma hailed Ambedkar as one of India's "tallest" leadersand acknowledged his contribution in guiding the process offraming the Constitution.
A delegation of MPs from Maharashtra, led by ChiefMinister Prithviraj Chavan, had met Prime Minister ManmohanSingh yesterday to press for transfer of the land.
Maharashtra government had proposed a grand memorial nearChaityabhoomi, Babasaheb Ambedkar's final resting place inDadar in Central Mumbai a few years ago.