Dr B R Ambedkar’s office in Dadar, dating to 1930, where he launched his political movement has been demolished by senior members of an organisation called People’s Improvement Trust, as reported by The Indian Express.
Ambedkar’s grandson, Prakash Ambedkar has filed an FIR in Bhoiwada police station, alleging that the demolition was conducted against his wishes. On the other hand, the PIT’s chief has argued that the demolition of the sprawling office in Dadar was necessary because the building had become dilapidated and they wished to redevelop the land into a 17-storey structure to be christened as Dr Ambedkar Bhawan
At the heart of the demolition, lies a rift within an organisation called People’s Improvement Trust on the best way to manage and continue Dr B R Ambedkar’s legacy.
Contending for Babasaheb’s Legacy
Both the parties allege that the other is attempting to misuse Babasaheb’s name. Prakash Ambedkar, who has filed an FIR against senior trustees of PIT including Madhukar Kamble and former IAS officer Ratnakar Gaikwad has said,
I will challenge their decision to demolish my office which I had inherited from Dr B R Ambedkar. I had also paid Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. My objection is over the commercialisation of Dr B R Ambedkar’s office. He owned the place since 1930. It has historic value. It was a place from where all important decisions of the Dalit movement took place.Prakash Ambedkar, Grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar
Senior members of the trust allege that Prakash wants complete control of the Trust and under him it would be impossible to serve the real purpose for which the trust was formed by Dr B R Ambedkar.
A formal decision to build a Dr B R Ambedkar Bhawan was taken on April 14. We had invited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the ‘bhoomi pujan’. So, we have the sanction of the government. Moreover, the property belongs to the government. Since our structure was dilapidated, we had received notice from the BMC to develop it in a couple of months. Accordingly, our Trust took the decision to demolish the old structure.Madhukar Kamble, Chief, People’s Improvement Trust
The complex under question had two buildings, one which is allegedly Prakash Amebdkar’s office and the other from where People’s Improvement Trust operated. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that they had nothing to do with the demolition.
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