Bestow Bharat Ratna on Babuji, demands BDCL

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Calling for bestowing the 'Bharat Ratna' on the 'apostle of dalits' Babu Jagjivan Ram, the Bharatiya Depressed Classes League (BDCL) today staged a 'dharna' demanding justice be done to stature of the late Deputy Prime Minister.

The demonstrators, who later court arrested to press for their demands, also gave a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressing that Babuji be honoured 'adequately' at least in his centenary year.

Demanding that his former residence on Krishna Menon Marg be made a national monument besides putting up a statue at the historic Vijay Chowk and setting up a foundation on his name, BDCL national secretary Barey Lal Mandeliya said bestowing the 'Bharat Ratna' to Babuji would be a befitting gesture on his centenary year, beginning tomorrow.

''We also want that Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Kabir Jayanti, Valmiki Jayanti be declared national holidays as a mark of respect to the depressed class which feels sidelined from the mainstream,'' he added.

The demonstartion was held to mark the 99th birth anniversary of the former Dy PM.

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