Fadnavis, Gadkari to attend 60th Dhamma Chakra day on Oct 11

Nagpur, Oct 4: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will grace the 60th Dhamma Chakra Pravartan day on October 11 at the historic Deekshabhoomi here, the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti said here today.

"This year the celebrations assume significance as it marks the diamond jubilee of the historic event when late great Dalit leader Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956," secretary of the Samiti, Sadanand Fulzele, told reporters.

Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh, Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, Karnataka Minister for Social Justice H Anjaiyya, Maharashtra Minister for Energy and Nagpur District Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole and city Mayor Praveen Datke will also attend the programme.

Samiti President Bhante Arya Nagarjun Surai Sesai will preside over the function. The Samiti and Dr Ambedkar College, which it runs, have also organised an All India Buddhist Literary meet on October 6 and 7 at its newly constructed auditorium.

"Prominent Buddhist intellectuals, thinkers and literary figures will be participating in the two-day meet," Fulzele said.

The Samiti has also organised a women's conference on October 8 on 'Progress of Women after Conversion'.

Noted entrepreneur Kalpana Saroj from Mumbai will inaugurate the event in the presence of former Maharashtra Minister Varsha Gaikwad.

Kamal Gavai, wife of late Kerala Governor and former president of the Samiti, R S Gavai, will preside over the function, organiser Takshila Waghdhare said.

PTI