Shift Ambedkar, Shivaji statues

SURAT, Dec 1: The district unit of the Republican Party of India, supported by the Shiv Sena, has demanded that the SMC should immediately make alternate arrangements for the statues of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji at Ring Road, where a fly-over is presently under construction.

Though the RPI and Shiv Sena opposed the idea earlier, they have now agreed to the shifting, but at spots of their choice. While they demanded the Ambedkar statue to be shifted to Udhna Darwaja, the demand for shifting Shivaji8217;s statue to the Delhi Gate area has already been made.

A delegation of RPI and Shiv Sena office-bearers including RPI district president Appasaheb Pendharkar, leader Suresh Sonawane and others met the chief minister and expressed anger over the fencing of the Ambedkar statue at Ring Road by the SMC. 8220;That fencing should be removed before December 6 Ambedkar8217;s 43rd death anniversary or the RPI will have to resort to an agitation,8221; Sonawane said in a statement issued here on Wednesday. He added that if possible, the statue should be re-located at the Udhna Darwaja before Monday.