A welfare body set up in honour of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar today pitched for giving a larger land mass for an under-construction memorial to the iconic Dalit leader and granting it a status on the lines of Rajghat landmark in the national capital.
Ambedkar, hailed as the architect of the Constitution, spent his last few years at 26, Alipur Road bungalow in Civil Lines area in north Delhi, located right opposite 6, Flagstaff Road, the current official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
National President of Dr Ambedkar Parinirvanbhoomi Samman Samiti, Indresh Gajbhiye, at a press conference held here, on the eve of death anniversary of the leader, said the existing size of land for the 'Parinirvan Bhoomi' memorial was "not sufficient".
"We appeal to the Modi government to grant us more land by acquiring public and private built areas next to 26, Alipur Road and also grant it a status on the lines of the Gandhi memorial at Rajghat," he said.
Gajbhiye, also appealed to Kejriwal to shift his residence from 6, Flagstaff Road, so that it could be made available for the upcoming memorial.
The Dalit welfare body has written an open letter to the Delhi chief minister urging him to "give up the space for the memorial to Ambedkar."
However, when asked, if there was any historical connection between the two bungalows, Gajbhiye said, "no, there is no connect. This place is very holy for us (Dalits) and therefore we want this memorial to be a fitting tribute to Babasaheb. But, we need more space."
He claimed that previous UPA government had "sent a letter" to Delhi government in this regard.
The proposed memorial is spread over nearly one acre of land under 24, Alipur Road campus, and includes a massive replica of the Constitution, as its central architectural feature. Buddhist pillars and arches will also dot the premises.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 21 laid a foundation stone for the Dr Ambedkar National Memorial, saying soon it would become one of the iconic buildings of Delhi, and that he would himself inaugurate it on Babasaheb's birthday, April 14 in 2018.
"24, Alipur Road bungalow, an ornate building, was originally built by the family of Sirohi State of Rajasthan. Babasaheb had fought some case for the family, and therefore it had given it Ambedkar, who spent the last few years of his life here," Gajbhiye said.
"The old bungalow, which earlier served as the Ambedkar memorial, has been dismantled to make way for the new memorial," he added.
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