Dalits, who had hoped that the statue of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar in front of Vidhana Soudha would be restored to its designated spot before his 125th birthday anniversary on April 14, are disappointed.
The statue had been shifted for underground work on the East-West corridor of Namma Metro.
The work is complete, but shifting the statue may take a while.
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“Dalit organisations met the Chief Minister recently and set a deadline of two months to reinstall the statue in its original spot,” said Mavalli Shankar, President, Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (Ambedkarvada), who had filed a petition earlier in the High Court questioning shifting the statue.
The High Court had directed that the statue be removed temporarily but restored to its original location.
But, various departments connected to reinstalling the statue are passing the buck. The Public Works Department, which is responsible for installing the statue, is accusing the Social Welfare Department of not acting on the issue.
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BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola declined to comment on the issue.
Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjenaya said, “The statue will be placed in its earlier place at the earliest. Officials have been asked to prepare a plan to widen the pedestal and create a beautiful landscape in the vicinity.”
Meanwhile, the State government has decided to bring out 22 volumes on the work, life, achievements, and principles of Dr. Ambedkar to mark his 125th birth anniversary.
The deadline fixed by the court ended 20 months ago. Even now, the government is dilly-dallying over complying with the directive
— Mavalli Shankar, President Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (Ambedkarvada)
The statue will be placed in its earlier place at the earliest. Officials have been asked to prepare a plan to widen the pedestal and create a beautiful landscape in the vicinity
— H. Anjaneya, Minister for Social Welfare