Fadnavis unveils Ambedkar statue at Japan varsity

Fadnavis after the unveiling ceremony at Koyasan University Thursday. (Source: Express photo)

”Dr B R Ambedkar’s struggle and principles for human dignity, social equality and justice is universal and relevant even in the modern age,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after unveiling Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue at Koyasan University in Japan.
Japanese officials led by Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka and others sported the traditional Maharashtrain-style saffron “pheta” on the occasion.

Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government had planned an Ambedkar memorial on 12.5 acres of Indu Mills land in Mumbai. Recently, the state government also purchased the house in London where Ambedkar stayed as a student while studying in London School of Economics during 1921-22, which would be developed as an international study centre and museum on Ambedkar’s life and teachings.

Nisaka said Koyasan, the ancient seat of Buddhist learning in Japan, was the ideal place to establish the memorial for Dr Ambedkar.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis on Thursday also travelled in a bullet train in Tokyo and discussed the operations of the high-speed trains with officials. The Vice Minister for International Affairs of MLIT (Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) Toshiya Morishige
discussed the operations of bullet trains with Fadnavis.