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Non-Marathi Dalits throng Mumbai
Shubhangi Khapre / DNA
Monday, December 7, 2009 0:49 IST
Mumbai: The political leadership was absent. And yet, the
undercurrents of a strong Dalit movement were felt in the city on
Sunday. Ten lakh Dalits from all over India converged at
Chaityabhoomi, Dadar, to pay tribute to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his
53rd death anniversary.
With Dalit leaders, such as Ramdas Athavale [RPI] and Prakash Ambedkar
[Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh], still recovering from the setbacks
suffered in the recent polls, mainstream parties like the Congress and
the BJP tried to make their presence felt among the Dalits. Chief
minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress, deputy chief minister Chhagan
Bhujbal and home minister RR Patil [both NCP] and Gopinath Munde [BJP]
were there at Chaityabhoomi, with Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR
Ambedkar, and Athavale.
Athavale, who under the banner of the third front has failed to win
even a single seat in the assembly elections, renewed his pledge to
fight for the Dalit unity. His rival, Prakash Ambedkar, took the same
vow on a separate platform. But the huge crowds did not seem to take
much notice. Having paid their homage to Babasaheb, they wandered
through the streets of Mumbai like tourists, visiting places like the
Gateway, Haji Ali, Girgaum chowpatty and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
This time, there was a record growth in the number of Dalits coming
from states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Maximum of those who came from within the state, were from Vidarbha
and Marathwada.
Prakash Ambedkar said, "The strong presence of people from distant
states clearly shows that BR Ambedkar's ideology is being accepted
across the nation, and by the GenNext."
Tushar Jagtap, president of Ambedkar Medicos Communique, said, "The
enthusiasm among the Dalits, who voluntarily assembled at
Chaityabhoomi, gives hope of a better tomorrow. They have rejected the
existing Dalit leadership, which has failed to live up to their
expectations. They are agitated as they have been let down by the
system. But the massive crowd at Chaityabhoomi proves that they have
not lost heart. They are ready for the bigger battle ahead. And their
inspiration remains Dr Ambedkar."
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