Opposition Angry at Government Over Not Being Invited for Ambedkar Memorial Event

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to embark on a three-day visit to London with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally open a memorial to Dalit icon, Dr BR Ambedkar there even as opposition parties targeted the government over not being invited for the event.

Mr Fadnavis said the event is being organised by the British Consulate and will be a "small" one and, thus, the number of invitees are limited.

"The programme has been organised by the British Consulate with limited invitees. There will be no loudspeakers or firecrackers since it is a residential area. This will be a small event," said the chief minister, whose tour begins from Thursday.

The house will be developed into an international memorial to the architect of the Indian Constitution, he said.

"(Ambedkar) was a scholar and a multi-faceted personality; he wrote some research papers during the period he stayed there (at the London house). Along with these research papers, artifacts will also be kept on the first and second floors of the Ambedkar house," Mr Fadnavis said.

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He added that two students, selected through a scholarship every year, will also get a chance to reside on the third floor.

Meanwhile, the proposed event prompted an attack from the opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party who said that the government should refrain from politicising such issues.

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"What do you expect from these RSS-minded politicians when they did not invite us for 'Bhoomipujan' for the Dr Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mills, where there were no restrictions... They should at least stop politicising issues related to national leaders. They should first understand Ambedkar before they hold programmes," charged Congress leader Sachin Sawant.