http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/For-10-years-now-Ambedkar-statue-waiting-to-be-unveiled/articleshow/7976314.cms
For 10 years now, Ambedkar statue waiting to be unveiled
TNN | Apr 14, 2011, 02.47am IST
BANGALORE: In Italy's Florence, every statue is a tale, but In India's
Bangalore, there are tales around statues.
It is B R Ambedkar's 120th birth anniversary, but residents of
Pulakeshinagar will continue to have one concern: the Ambedkar statue
in the BBMP park adjoining Pottery Town Government High School is yet
to be inaugurated years after it was installed there. Busts of Buddha
and Basava flank the statue of the Bharat Ratna awardee.
Residents of the region contend that the statue has been there for
almost ten years after it was removed from its original place on
Netaji Road. "It suffered damages during transportation and MLA B
Prasanna Kumar wanted to replace it. However, the All India Scheduled
Caste Federation didn't want it," says Yasir Mohammed, a resident.
MLA of Pulakeshinagar B Prasanna Kumar agrees. "I have a bronze statue
of Dr Ambedkar that I want to install in the park. I don't want a
damaged statue to be inaugurated and I won't attend such an event. The
Federation wants Rs 10 lakh for the event and they've been collecting
funds for seven-eight years now," he claims.
However, the Treasurer of the Federation, S Babu Rao Ghodke, insists
that the issue originated just five years ago. "The statue is a little
damaged but we have painted it golden. We are waiting for a political
leader to inaugurate it but they keep saying they have no time. But it
will definitely happen by April-end," he promises.
Residents are apprehensive that this political repartee will prove
meaningless and the statue will face another `dry year' of being
wrapped in cloth. Karan, a resident, says that people in the area want
the statue inaugurated as soon as possible. "We don't want anybody
giving excuses citing finances or a broken statue to delay the
unveiling,'' says Yasir. Pointing to a child who was standing nearby,
he says: "We'd rather have someone like this third standard student,
Soundarya Padmanabhan, inaugurate it." Soundarya says she will be
eager to do the honours.
For today's Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, however, they will have to
go to Netaji Road while the Ambedkar statue in the park waits.
__ Rhea Subramanya
DIFFERENT VOICES
Residents: Ambedkar statue has been here for 10 years. As it suffered
damage while shifting from Netaji Road to here, MLA Prasanna Kumar
wanted to replace it. But the All India Scheduled Caste Federation
didn't want it
MLA Prasanna Kumar: I don't want a damaged statue to be inaugurated.
The Federation wants Rs 10 lakh for the event and they have been
collecting funds for seven-eight years now
Treasurer of the Federation: The statue is a little damaged but we
heve painted it golden. We promise to get it inaugurated by April-end
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