'Anti-Dalit Cong always opposed Amebedkar'

Lucknow, Apr 14: Describing Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar as the champion of the rights of Dalits, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati today made a scathing attack on Congress party saying it had always conspired against Ambedkar and his relentless efforts towards Dalit welfare. ''It was not Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru or other personalities but only Ambedkar who ensured the constitutional rights for Dalits as well as of other backward castes but always found Congress as impediment in the way,'' she said while addressing a rally on the occasion of 117th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

Ms Mayawati said the Congress had opposed tooth and nail, the entry of Ambedkar into the Constituent Assembly pre-independence but the Dalit ideologue managed his way to bring about revolutionary provisions for Dalit welfare. ''It should be known to all that the Congress party has been anti-Dalit right throughout and never been in agreement with the thoughts and ideology of Ambedkar in the favour of dalits,'' she said.

She said that the fore-sightedness of Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar had seen provisions of Article 340 which later paved the way for reservation of Dalits in the government jobs.

Choosing the occasion to dedicate newly constructed and renovated Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal to the people of the state, the Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati unveiled the statues of Ambedkar, Ramabai, Kanshiram and herself at the venue.

The state capital today worn a festive look with statues of Ambedkar and Kanshiram were garlanded at several places, couple of which were visisted by chief minister Mayawati herself. She also announced to observe this day as a 'fair' every year an urged Bahujan Samaj to pay respect to their ideologues.
While singling out the Congress for her vitriol, the UP CM did not spare Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and other political parties for neglecting the memorials and places connected with Ambedkar or Dalit ideology. ''They never maintained these places during the BSP government's absence from power,'' she alleged.

The BSP leader said but for the conditions put forward by the Britishers in the bargain for indepedence the Congress would have excluded Ambedkar from Indian Constituent assembly. The place from where he was elected to the Constituent Assembly was included in Pakistan but Amebdkar fought his way back to India, she said.

She was critical of opposition parties for making a hue and cry over expenditure of Amebedkar memorials in the state capital counter attacking '' No party utters a single word about crores being spent on the memorial to great personalities at Rajghat and other similar places,'' she pointed out. Ms Mayawati also mentioned court cases on the construction of Amebedkar memorial saying the case was being contested by BSP General Sercretary Satish Chandra Mishra with all his expertise.

In fact no party, mainly the Congress, wanted to see Dalits flourishing in this country while BSP always functioned towards welfare of all sections, the BSP leader said. ''Sarvajan Hitaya (welfare for all)' has always been the motto of the BSP, ''she said.

Asserting that Ambedkar never thought on religious lines but strived to ensure benifits for the Dalits and the downtrodden people.

Remebering BSP's founder Kanshiram , she said he was the ablest of his followers who brought forward Ambedkar's crusade and helped BSP attain power. Vowing to serve every section of society, she said if the BSP did that then it would be the befitting homage to the architect of the Indian constitution.

UNI