Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said Babasaheb Ambedkar was the father of the Constitution and the government would ensure a befitting memorial for him. A delegation of ruling party leaders met the PM on Saturday. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan briefed the PM on the present status of the land transfer and the overall sentiment of the people on the issue,said MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant. The CM said there were hurdles put forward by various ministries and requested the PM to intervene and direct all the ministries concerned to expedite the procedure. As the government would construct the memorial,it would not be used for commercial purposes,Chavan said. The Prime Minister expressed astonishment over the slow pace of work on the memorial. You have my assurance and I stand by it. The hurdles will be overcome. I associate with the sentiments of all of you. When I go back,I will ask all my colleagues in Textile Ministry,Environment ministry to expedite it, Sawant quoted Singh as saying. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,state Congress unit chief Manikrao Thakre,State ministers Naseem Khan,Varsha Gaikwad and Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad were part of the delegation. NCP members in the delegation included Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and ministers Jayant Patil,Chagan Bhujbal,Sachin Ahir and Laxman Dhoble. Other members were Anandraj Ambedkar,Ramdas Athavle,Jogendra Kawade,Rajendra Gawai and Gangadhar Gade.
