Maharashtra Governor, CM pay tributes to BR Ambedkar

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were among those who paid tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar

Mumbai: Rich tributes were on Sunday paid to Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, on his death anniversary, as lakhs of his followers gathered at his memorial Chaityabhoomi here in Dadar area.

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were among those who paid tributes to the Dalit icon at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar's Shivaji Park, on the day observed as 'Mahaparinirvan Diwas' by Ambedkar's followers.

"My salutations to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the most supreme Constitution of the world," Fadnavis said while paying his tributes.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) made elaborate arrangements to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the event.

"The MCGM has constructed an 8,000 sq metres 'Bhojan mandap' for people who come from outside the city to pay their respects to Dr Ambedkar. The food is provided by social organisations. We have for the first time provided 200 mobile charging points for people," an MCGM official said.

The civic body has made special arrangements to provide toilets and drinking water facilities to the people who have arrived in the city, he said.

"Along with this, medical facilities are being provided, and fire brigade and police officers are on the spot. About 6,000 civic officials and 1,200 police constables are manning the area to ensure smooth movement of people who have come to pay their tributes to 
Dr Ambedkar. Also, 4 DCPs and 8 ACPs are keeping a strict vigil on any possible anti-social elements," he said.

The civic body has also printed one lakh copies of an informative booklet on Ambedkar which have been distributed among people.