Maharashtra: Vandalism at Ambedkar's memorial invites condemnation

The act of vandalism at the residence of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has sparked huge chaos among the followers and politicians in Maharashtra. It was learnt that flower pots in the premises of ‘Rajgruha’ in Mumbai were smashed and some CCTV cameras were also damaged.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday strongly condemned and demanded immediate arrest of the accused involved in vandalism at the residence of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Mumbai’s Dadar. 

“I myself have talked to the Additional Commissioner of Police and demanded immediate arrest of the accused,” said Fadnavis. 

भारतरत्न महामानव डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर यांचे निवासस्थान असलेल्या 'राजगृह' यावर करण्यात आलेला हल्ला हा अत्यंत निषेधार्य असून आरोपींना तात्काळ अटक व्हावी अशी आमची मागणी आहे.
मी स्वतः मा. भीमराव (दादासाहेब) आंबेडकरजी यांच्याशी फोनवर चर्चा केली तसेच...
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— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 7, 2020

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde also expressed his displeasure over the incident. He said that the residence of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar ‘Rajgruha’ was his identity and the vandalism is a cowardly attack on the same. 

“Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh should pay attention to this case and arrest those involved. Strict action should be taken against them,” he tweeted in Marathi. 

महामानव डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकरांचे निवासस्थान 'राजगृह' ही आमची अस्मिता आहे, माथेफिरूंनी केलेली तोडफोड हा आमच्या अस्मितेवर केलेला भ्याड हल्ला आहे. मी या घटनेचा तीव्र निषेध व्यक्त करतो. @AnilDeshmukhNCP यांनी या प्रकरणी लक्ष घालून या माथेफिरूना अटक करून कठोर कारवाई करावी ! जय भीम !

— Dhananjay Munde (@dhananjay_munde) July 7, 2020

Maharashtra Housing Minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad also demanded a thorough investigation and severe punishment for the accused.

“This house has an important place for us Ambedkariites. Babasaheb built this house for books and vandalism at Rajgruha is cowardly,” Awhad said while demanding to sever punishment for the accused. 

Meanwhile, BJP leader Ashish Shelar visited Rajgruha on Wednesday after the incident and met grandsons of Babasaheb Ambedkar - Anandrao and Bhimrao (Dadasaheb).  

Earlier in the day, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar - grandson of Ambedkar - appealed for peace while urging the followers of Babasaheb to not gather outside the house. 

Also Read - 

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Condemns Vandalism At Babasaheb Ambedkar's House