State government will allocate funds for restoration of Ambedkar Bhavan, an old structure related to B R Ambedkar which was demolished recently, if the two grandsons of the dalit-icon prepare a joint plan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Legislative Council today.
Ambedkar Bhavan and the Buddha Bhushan printing press, located in Central Mumbai, started by Babasaheb Ambedkar were demolished by People's Improvement Trust last month claiming that it was dilapidated and a grand 'Ambedkar Bhavan' would come up in its place.
"If Prakash Ambedkar and Anandraj Ambedkar (both grandsons of B R Ambedkar who head different factions of dalits) come together and prepare a plan for the restoration of Ambedkar Bhavan and Budhbhushan Printing Press, the government is ready to allocate funds for restoration," Fadnavis said while replying to a debate on a calling attention notice moved by Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe and others.
Prakash Ambedkar is the leader of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, while Anandraj heads a political party called Republican Sena.
The structure was built by Ambedkar out of his own money to provide place for ostracised dalits at that time. It also housed a printing press for publishing dalit literature.
Congress leader Narayan Rane had moved a supplementary query in this regard demanding that government should call the aggrieved parties to negotiation table.
The chief minister disclosed that orders to demolish the printing press issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were not in order.
"Since the printing press was a heritage structure, there was no need for the structure to be touched. A probe will be conducted into whether the structure was dilapidated or not and whether the order was proper or not," he said.
Fadnavis said the orders will be issued to include the structure in the heritage structure list.
"BMC, acting on reports of two structural engineers, had ruled that the printing press was in a dilapidated condition. BMC had given notice for its demolition within 30 days," he said.
Fadnavis said the trustees should have informed the civic body, police and fire brigade before razing the building.
"However, the trustees in the midnight, with the help of
300 to 400 people, pulled down the wall of the printing press and damaged the front portion of Ambedkar Bhavan," Fadnavis said.
On the demand for removal of Chief Information Commissioner and Ambedkar Bhavan trustee Ratnakar Gaikwad over razing of the structure, the CM said Gaikwad occupies a constitutional post and is appointed by Governor.
"The government has sent its report to Governor on the role of Ratnakar Gaikwad in the demolition incident," he added.
Replying to queries over his attendance at 'bhoomipujan' ceremony in April for construction of a multi-storyed tower at the site where Ambedkar Bhavan stood, the CM said, "the names appearing on the invitation card and those on the property card and Schedule I were same".
He said he was informed about the dispute over Ambedkar Bhavan in intervening period (between the 'bhoomi pujan' and demolition) by Prakash Ambedkar.
"Acting on the information provided by Prakash Ambedkar I ordered a stay. In the intervening period the people went ahead and tried to demolish the structure. I then spoke to both Prakash Ambedkar and Anandraj Ambedkar on what concrete (action) be done (taken) next," he said.
Earlier, raising a supplementary query, Gorhe said Gaikwad's name has been cropped up in the dispute.
Seeking Gaikwad's ouster, she alleged that the officer had misused his official position to get the printing press demolished.
Yesterday, a huge protest rally, led by Prakash Ambedkar, was taken out in south Mumbai to condemn the demolition of Ambedkar Bhavan.
Leaders cutting across party lines shared the stage and lashed out at the BJP-led Central and Maharashtra governments on the issue.
