Prakash Ambedkar calls for peace

Nashik

: President of Bharatiya Republican Party Bahujan Mahasangh Adv Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday appealed to people to maintain peace and law and order in the district, following five days of tension and arson over the alleged rape of a minor girl.

Prakash met the family of the rape survivor at the local hospital and assured them about the accused being brought to book. Prakash, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, visited Nashik while on his way to Yeola. A grand function was organized at Yeola to commemorate the day on which Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar made the historic announcement of leaving Hinduism. He avoided making any political comments during his address in Yeola.

"I met the girl in the hospital and her condition is normal. Her health is improving. I have assured her parents that we will ensure justice. I appeal to members of all communities to come together and end the tense situation which has caused suffering for last three days," he said.

While speaking to reporters in Nashik, he blamed the BJP-led state government for the present situation in which caste-based differences have heightened. "It is a well-known agenda of the BJP to divide people on the basis of caste, religion and creed. They were quite successful in implementing this agenda till now. The ultimate aim of the BJP is to change the Constitution," he said.

Adv Ambedkar alleged that the present government is against reservations and it will never present the Maratha reservation case properly in court.

Commenting on the instance of burning of an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jawaharlal Nehru University, he said, "It could be termed as reaction to the action. The present government is intended to crush the basic values of the Constitution. As a result, they are facing anger of citizens."

Thousands visit Yeola to salute Mukti Bhumi

On Thursday, Yeola town recalled the historic speech of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar delivered over 82 years ago. At the town located 82 kilometres from Nashik, Ambedkar had vowed, "I solemnly assure you that I will not die as a Hindu."

Dr Ambedkar had also appealed to the Dalits to leave Hinduism entirely and embrace another religion at this town only. The place has become a pilgrimage centre 'Mukti Bhumi' for thousands of followers of Dr Ambedkar since then.

Mukti Bhumi had witnessed record number of visitors on October 13, 1935, the day on which Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had made the historic announcement.

"Speaking at the

Yeola Conversion Conference

in 1935, Dr Ambedkar announced his intention to convert to a different religion. After Yeola, he repeated this message in numerous public meetings. A very popular photograph in which he is seen addressing a public meeting is from Yeola only. It took 21 years to complete this resolution as he initiated the 'Dhamma Chakra Pravartan' in Nagpur in 1956," said Yatin Shinde, who has collection of rare photographs from the Yeola conference.