Speakers at a round table discussion organised here on Thursday by National Dalit Liberation Movement (NDLM) appealed to the Union government and the Reserve Bank of India to print the image of B.R. Ambedkar in Indian currency notes.
Dalit Pandiyan, national convenor of the NDLM, who initiated the discussion, said that the demand was being put forth in the fourth round table meeting on the anniversary of Poona Pact. The NDLM, he said, had been highlighting this demand since September 24, 2012, as the ‘Nation’s Father,’ B.R. Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, should be featured in currency notes like Mahatma Gandhi.
He claimed that the demand was not against the depiction of Mahatma Gandhi in currency notes but to get due recognition for Dr. Ambedkar. Mr. Pandiyan regretted that even MLAs elected from reserved constituencies on the basis of the Poona Pact did not know what it was.
He said that the NDLM would send postcards to all MPs, seeking their support to get the image of Dr. Ambedkar in currency notes.
The fifth round table meeting on the issue would be held in Mumbai on October 12.
C.J. Rajan, State president, Samam Kudimakkal Iyakkam, said that Dr. Ambedkar was also a national leader like Mahatma Gandhi and it was not proper to ignore him. Schoolchildren should be made aware of the significant role played by Dr. Ambedkar in nation-building, he said.
