Athavale now chairman of trust running Siddharth college

On June 2,around 350 protesters led by Prakash Ambedkar (who is a grandson of BR Ambedkar) of the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) tried to barge into the college founded by BR Ambedkar,demanding that the trust be handed over to them,claiming they had an order from the Charity Commissioner’s office. The crowd turned violent and the police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse it. Around 51 protesters were arrested and charged with rioting.

The members of PES’s governing body at that time said,”We do not want to appoint any political person.” However,they have now appointed Athavale as the chairman of the trust. He was appointed on July 2,but formally took charge on Wednesday,on the occasion of Teacher’s day.

“We had removed two members Dr M S Moray and Dr S P Gaikwad for carrying out fraudulent activities in the name of the trust. Moray and Gaikwad have been creating a ruckus since then saying they were the only legal members out of the total 11 members…to get back their place in the governing body,Moray and Gaikwad are taking the help of Prakash Ambedkar and Ambedkar in turn is using Moray and Gaikwad to enter the governing body,” said Krishna Patil,the college’s principal.

“With Athavaleji taking over as the Chairman,we would not face any more pressure from Prakash Ambedkar or any other group who wants to take over the trust for their vested interest,” Patil said.