3 min readLucknowUpdated: Dec 6, 2025 04:32 PM IST
He made the remarks while addressing the ‘Mahaparinirvaan Diwas (death anniversary)’ programme of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in Lucknow. (Source: X/@myogiadityanath)
Boundary walls would be constructed around statues of Dr Ambedkar across Uttar Pradesh to protect them, announced Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday. He made the remarks while addressing the ‘Mahaparinirvaan Diwas (death anniversary)’ programme of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in Lucknow.
Many such statues have been subjected to vandalism by miscreants in various districts in the past. “To prevent such incidents, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to build protective boundary walls and install canopies over all statues of Babasaheb. His legacy must be preserved with dignity,” the CM said.
At the event, CM Adityanath also announced that the government will ensure a guaranteed minimum honorarium for Class IV employees, contract workers, and sanitation workers in the next one to two months.
He said these workers, who play an essential role in running civic and government services, deserve fair and dignified compensation. “We have already set up a dedicated corporation. In the next month or two, the government will ensure minimum honorarium payments to all Class IV, contract, and sanitation workers,” he said.
भारतीय संविधान के शिल्पकार, बोधिसत्व ‘भारत रत्न’ बाबा साहब डॉ. भीमराव आंबेडकर जी के महापरिनिर्वाण दिवस पर आज लखनऊ में आयोजित विशेष श्रद्धांजलि सभा में सहभाग किया एवं उनकी प्रतिमा पर माल्यार्पण कर उन्हें श्रद्धांजलि दी।
He added that the ongoing ‘Zero Poverty Mission’ is being accelerated to ensure that no family in the state remains deprived of government benefits. Identification of poor families from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Most Backward Classes is nearly complete. Many families have already received ration cards, pension cards, or other welfare benefits. Those still without housing or Ayushman health coverage will be provided homes and health insurance worth Rs 5 lakh, said the CM.
Adityanath also criticised political parties that have historically pursued appeasement for vote-bank politics. Calling it detrimental to national unity and an insult to Babasaheb’s ideals, he referred to an incident and claimed a Congress leader refused to sing Vande Mataram in 1923.
“Babasaheb warned the nation long ago about such tendencies,” he said. “He had said that anyone who enjoys the privileges of India but does not consider its land sacred cannot genuinely work in the interest of this country. Parties driven by appeasement are not only harming India but also disrespecting Dr Ambedkar by trying to keep people deprived of their basic rights,” the CM added.
Calling Mahaparinirvan Diwas a day of deep inspiration, CM Adityanath said Babasaheb rose from the grassroots, overcoming immense social discrimination and traditional inequalities to open pathways of dignity and empowerment for Dalits, the deprived, and the most backward communities.
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“Whether it is scholarships, housing schemes, pensions, social security, or health insurance — every benefit is reaching the ground. No Dalit, deprived, or backward citizen is being left behind. Ownership rights through housing documents, construction of toilets, distribution of ration, and access to modern healthcare are all reflections of the equality Babasaheb envisioned,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the new India is honouring great national icons through initiatives such as the construction of Panchateerthas and expanded scholarship programmes for SC, ST, OBC, and Dalit students. He added that the state government is working to connect every slum, Dalit settlement, and SC/ST habitation with essential services and infrastructure.
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.
Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.
Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More
