Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary: BJP to highlight Dalit icon’s views on nationalism

The BJP leadership has asked its workers, including MPs and MLAs to focus on the Narendra Modi government's efforts to promote Ambedkar’s legacy.

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BJP will invoke Dalit icon B R Ambedkar’s views on nationalism to support its campaign on the issue during the party’s three-day programme to observe his 125th birth anniversary from April 14 to 16.

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The BJP leadership has asked its workers, including MPs and MLAs to focus on the Narendra Modi government’s efforts to promote Ambedkar’s legacy. “We will highlight Ambedkar’s nationalist views on the country’s unity and integrity. Our rivals have selectively used him. He held strong nationalist views and they will be highlighted…Equality for all was his message,” said BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma.

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He added that the BJP will observe April 14 as ‘Samrasta Diwas’ (harmony day) and party leaders will garland the Dalit icon’s statues while pledging to end discrimination. The move is part of the party’s all-out efforts to woo Dalits, a constituency that is key to its poll fortunes in UP and Punjab polls.

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The government, meanwhile, will roll out a rural outreach programme — ‘Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday’ — between April 14 and 24 in coordination with the states. Officially, it has been described as a programme commemorating the birth anniversary of Ambedkar on April 14, and also to mark the ‘National Panchayati Raj’ day on April 24. Party office-bearers and legislators have also been asked to actively promote this programme.

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