Parties pay homage to Ambedkar

Political parties and social organisations celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of the author of Indian Constitution, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, in Thanjavur on Tuesday amid demands that the great leader be honoured with a statue at a public place in the city.

The AIADMK farmers’ wing secretary, Durai Govindarajan, and Thanjavur MP K.Parasuraman led the party cadres in paying homage to the noted social emancipator by garlanding his statue inside the Adhi Tamilar Peravai party office on the Nanjikkottai Road.

Among those who participated in the event included Mayor Savitri Gopal and District Panchayat Chairperson Amudharani Ravichandran.

The Congress delegation was led by the district senior leader Nanjil Varadarajan, city unit president Rajendran and secretary S.R.Vasu. The BJP was represented by its district president Annamalai and city unit president Vinayakam.

Meanwhile, the AITUC cadres garlanded a portrait of Dr. Ambedkar at the Old Bus Stand where the AITUC State general secretary J.Lakshmanan, State secretary Chandrakumar, CPI district secretary Tirugnanam, DMK’s Labour Progressive Front leader Pandian, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Kalandher, IJK district president Simione Xavier Raj and others paid their respects to the great leader. Cutting across the political and social spectrum, many leaders expressed dismay over the fact that the city never had a statue of Dr. Ambedkar in public space for the people to pay homage during important days.

The State government and public-spirited organisations must come forward to suitably honour the Father of Indian Constitution without breaching the guidelines of the Supreme Court on installation of statues of national leaders.

The only statue of Dr. Ambedkar in Thanjavur city was at the Adhi Tamilar Peravai office complex on Nanjikkottai Road.