File Photo: Dr BR Ambedkar.
The government on Saturday announced its massive plans of commemorating Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary.
A special 19-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be set up which will work on a series of initiatives which will be undertaken during the course of the year. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting.
The government has also decided to celebrate April 14, the day Dr Ambedkar was born, as 'Samarasta Diwas'. At least two of the cities associated with Dr Ambedkar - Mhow, Nagpur and Vadodara - will be developed.
The government has earmarked Rs 197 crore for building the Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath in the national capital and Rs 99 crore for Ambedkar memorial that will be set up at Alipur in Delhi.
A special tableau dedicated to the architect of the Indian constitution will be prepared for the next Republic Day. A commemorative stamp and coin will also be released.
The government's announcement comes days before Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, where Babasaheb Ambedkar was born. The Congress also held a special meeting on Saturday where the party discussed its plans of commemorating Babsaheb's 125th birth anniversary, leaving many questioning if political parties are playing politics in the name of the Dalit icon.