125th Birth Anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar
DELHI
DSMM Salutes the Memory of Dr BR Ambedkar
THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (Delhi unit) celebrated the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar on April 14, 2016 by organising a public function at Parliament Street, New Delhi. The function began with the garlanding of a photograph of Dr Ambedkar by Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M).
Prakash Karat addressed the gathering that consisted of activists and supporters of DSSM as well as hundreds of others who had come to pay their homage to Dr Ambedkar under the banners of different organisations.
Prakash Karat praised Dr Ambedkar as the foremost champion of the fight against the hateful Manuwadi caste system. His entire life was dedicated to building an equal and just society free from all kinds of barbarities, oppression and exploitation.
The RSS-BJP is trying to portray Dr Ambedkar as a supporter of the Hindutva ideology. This Prakash Karat said, is a brazen lie. In fact Dr Ambedkar was an uncompromising opponent of Hindutva ideology that supports the hateful caste system as an ideal form of social organisation, champions communal politics and is dead set against equal rights for women. Prakash Karat concluded by saying that serious and united struggles towards achieving the socially just society that Dr Ambedkar stood for will be a true homage to him.
Srinivas Rao, all India leader of the DSMM also spoke on the occasion. The function was presided over by Brahmjit Singh (president, DSMM, Delhi) and conducted by Nathu Prasad (general secretary, DSMM, Delhi).
Famous folk artist Rattan Gambhir enthralled the audience with his songs attacking all kinds of exploitation, inequality and oppression. Over a thousand copies of a booklet entitled “Hindutva Aur Ambedkar” written by Dr SP Kashyap were also sold on the occasion.
DSMM Oragnises Convention in Jalandhar
THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch organised a convention – Dalit Parliament – on the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall in Jalandhar on April 14. A large number of women and youth participated in the programme.
G Mamatha, all India leader of Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, Prof. Jagmohan Singh, nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, dalit leader and intellectual, Prof. Gian Chand Kaul, CITU leader, Raghunath Singh, CPI(M) leader, Lehmber Singh Tagger, Khet Mazdoor Union leader, Vasudev Jamsher were among the prominent leaders who addressed the gathering. Kewal Singh Hazara presided over the convention.
G Mamatha while addressing the meeting lamented that even after 69 years of independence, there is no much improvement in the conditions of the dalits. She further said that there is a spurt in caste related atrocities on the dalits. There are planned attacks on dalit students in universities by the RSS backed organisations. She spoke about the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula and said that instead of taking action against the culprits, those who are fighting for justice for Rohith Vemula are being attacked and put in jails on false cases. She demanded enactment of a law for Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan.
Prof. Jagmohan Singh, nephew of Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh highlighted the constributions of Dr B R Ambedkar in framing the constitution and making provisions therein for the development of dalits. He said that Dr Ambedkar was a great visionary and savior of the working class.
Raghunath Singh, general secretary, CITU Punjab state committee demanded round the year work for MGNREGA workers and immediate clearance of pending payments, extension of MGNREGA scheme to urban areas and minimum wage as Rs 600 per day.
Lehmber Singh Tagger, CPI(M) leader and Vasudev Jamsher, Khet Mazdoor union leader also addressed the gathering.
The Dalit Parliament adopted resolutions demanding reservation for dalits in private sector, share in land for dalits, equal pay for equal work in construction sector for women, extension of MGNREGA scheme to urban areas, round the year work to MGNREGA workers and Rs 600 as minimum wage for MGNREGA workers. The Parliament decided to intensify their struggle for achievement of the above demands.
(R L Moudgil)
125th Birth Anniversary of Ambedkar Observed in Telangana
M VenugopalaRao
ON the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, ‘Jai Bhim…Lal Salaam’ Programme was organised at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad on April 14, stressing on the need for all progressive, democratic forces to work together in the fight against social oppression and economic exploitation. CPI(M) Telangana state secretary, Tammineni Veerabhadram and others who participated in the programme, garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar and paid homage. G Ramulu, convener of Telangana Praja Samskrutika Kendram, presided over the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Veerabhadram said Ambedkar was recognised by the government of Maharashtra after 75 years of his birth, by the government of India after 100 years and by the United Nations after 125 years, he said. Ambedkar stressed that, for putting an end to caste discrimination, right to property should be abolished and that justice cannot be done without ending discrimination. Veerabhadram gave a call for Ambedkarites and Marxists to work together to achieve the common goal.
Referring to the decision of the chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao that a 125-feet statue of Ambedkar would be installed, Veerabhadram asked whether his government would simply confine to that or would it end discrimination. Making use of the portrait of Ambedkar, the ruling classes are hatching a conspiracy to annihilate Ambedkarism, he cautioned and stressed that the responsibility to foil it rests on Ambedkarites, Communists and other progressive forces. He announced that social movements would be taken forward, come whatever hindrances and difficulties.
Social activist Usa said the Congress party did not bother about Ambedkar and that was the reason why its government did not confer Bharat Ratna on him. He wished that Blue flag should stand beside Red flag. Prof Musalayya suggested preparation of a document combining the thought of Ambedkar and the ideological programme of the CPI(M). Prof Raju Naik said it is unfortunate that the union minister B Dattatreya, who portrayed students of Ambedkar Students’ Association as unsocial elements, garlanded the statue of Ambedkar. Prof Prabhanjan Yadav said because there is strength in the ideology of Ambedkar, the world is recognising it. He felt if the Red and Blue flags join, they can rule the Red Fort. State secretariat members of the CPI(M) D G Narasimha Rao and Nandyala Narsimha Reddy and leaders of several mass organisations participated in the programme
