Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary: Lakhs turns up at ‘Jaystambh’; turnout higher than last yr, event held peacefully

Along with tight police security, arrangements like free buses from visitors, drinking water tankers, health, medical and sanitation facilities, fire tenders, ambulances, were in place.

District collector Deshmukh, Pune Zilla Parishad CEO Ramesh Chavan, Pune rural police SP Ankit Goyal travelled in a bus along with the people from Shikrapur parking to Perne. Officials interacted with the people about the facilities and arrangements made for the programme at Jaystambh.

Deputy Chief Minister and district guardian minister Ajit Pawar, senior Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, Union Minister Ramdas Athavale, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan, NCP MP Amol Kolhe were among the various political leaders who visited the “Jaystambh” Monday. Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani from Gujarat remained absent for the event.

The January 1 event at Jaystambh is considered highly sensitive by the government affer one person had died and several others were injured in the violence in Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, when a huge number of people had gathered to commemorate the 200th anniversary Koregaon Bhima battle.

Jaystambh is a “military monument” erected by the British government in 1821 in memory of its soldiers who fought against the Peshwa force at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818.

The British had appointed their soldier Kandojibin Gajoji Jamadar (Malvadkar), who was injured in the battle, as the in-charge of the Jaystambh on December 13, 1824.
Descendents of Jamadar, who are Marathas, believe that both British and Peshwa forces had soldiers from different castes. So they say the ‘Jaystambh’ cannot be linked to any particular caste or religion. But as per a Dalit narrative, the British Army comprising 500 soldiers from the Mahar community defeated a 25,000-strong force of upper caste Peshwas in the battle of Koregaon Bhima.

So lakhs of Ambedkarites visit the Jaystambh on January 1 to pay tribute to the soldiers who, they believe, fought a war against the alleged casteism of the Peshwas.

This year, more visitors were expected, so heavy security arrangements were made by the Pune city and Pune rural police. About 5,000 police personnel were deployed in Koregaon Bhima and adjoining areas to maintain law and order. Everyone going towards Jaystambh was made to pass through door frame metal detectors. Multiple CCTV cameras were installed and drones were used for watching the crowds.

Wankhede, wife visits ‘Jaystambh’

Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede and his wife Kranti Redkar, who is a well known actor from the Marathi film industry, paid a visit to the ‘Jaystambh’ today.
Wankhede is facing allegations of demanding a bribe from actor Shah Rukh Khan’s family for not implicating his son Aaryan Khan in the Cordelia cruise drug bust case. Wankhede has denied the allegations. He and his wife were also seen serving food to the people who visited Jaystambh.