Koregaon Bhima inquiry: Commission told BARTI has no expertise to manage Jaystambh
The Commission had asked BARTI to file an affidavit in connection with its role in managing the programmes for the Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary on January 1 and the civil dispute related to the Jaystambh land.
BARTI (left) has been participating in Shourya Din celebration at Jaystambh (right) on a year to year basis and providing funds for it strictly in compliance with the directions of state government, the affidavit said. (Express photo) The Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry has called IAS officer Deepa Mudhol Munde, Director General of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), for cross examination on June 1.
The Commission had asked BARTI to file an affidavit in connection with its role in managing the programmes for the Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary on January 1 and the civil dispute related to the Jaystambh land.
Accordingly, Mundhe filed the affidavit on April 22. It stated that BARTI was not authorised by the Maharashtra Government to independently look after, administer, or manage the Jaystambh.
It further stated that BARTI did not have any expertise to maintain, manage any memorial like Jaystambh.
According to historical records, Jaystambh is a military monument located in Perne village in Pune, was erected by the British government around 1822 in memory of its soldiers who fought against the Peshwas at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818.
The Britishers appointed their soldier Kandojibin Gajoji Jamadar – who was wounded in the Battle of Koregaon Bhima – as the in-charge of the Jaystambh on December 13, 1824. His successors say that as per the ‘sanad (official order)’ given to Kandojibin Gajoji Jamadar by the British government a few years after the battle, their family was given possession of about 260 acres of awarded land, along with the Jaystambh land, till the time they had male successors.
According to the Jamadar family, which belongs to the Maratha community, both British and Peshwa forces comprised soldiers of different castes. Thus, they say the battle of Koregaon Bhima cannot be linked to any particular caste or religion, and that it was not a war against casteism.
But, as per a Dalit Ambedkarite narrative, the British Army, comprising 500 soldiers from the Mahar community, defeated a 28,000-strong force of Peshwas in this battle. Lakhs of Ambedkarites across Maharashtra and other parts of the country visit the Jaystambh on January 1, calling it ‘Shourya Din (victory day)’ to pay tribute to soldiers who, they believe, fought a war for freedom against the alleged casteism of the Peshwas.
An affidavit filed by Munde mentions that the government authorised BARTI to make arrangements and incur expenditure for Shourya Din celebration.
It stated that as per a government order dated December 20, Director General of BARTI is part of the “permanent administrative committee” of 20 members, headed by District Collector, Pune, formed for making arrangements for Shourya Din.
The affidavit mentions that “BARTI does not independently exercise authority over the War Memorial (Jaystambh)”. BARTI has been participating in Shourya Din celebration at Jaystambh on a year to year basis and providing funds for it strictly in compliance with the directions of state government, it stated.
About the land dispute, the affidavit says that BARTI was made a party to the litigation by the Jamadar. As per the government’s direction on July 3, 2017, BARTI has appointed special counsel to represent its position in the court, it stated.
A civil suit pertaining to the Jaystambh land, filed by ex- Indian Army officer Captain Balasaheb Jamadar (successor of Kandojibin Gajoji Jamadar), against the state government (through the Collector of Pune District), BARTI and a private outfit Bhima Koregaon Vijay Stambh Saurakshan and Savardhan Samiti, is pending before a court of civil judge senior division in Pune.
Commission gets another extension till August 31
The state government has granted yet another extension to the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry till August 31. This is the 22nd extension granted to the commission.
The two-member commission, headed by retired high court judge Justice J N Patel, with former chief secretary Sumit Mallick serving as its second member, was constituted by the state government for probing into the causes of violence in Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, in which one person had died and several others were left injured.
When contacted, V V Palnitkar, Commission’s secretary confirmed that BARTI’s director general Munde has been called for cross examination during the hearing scheduled on June 1.
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