Skip to main content

Mayawati and her Ambedhkar Udyaan

Just across the road from where I work, there is a huge wall that has recently been constructed, of red 'Kota Stone' running all along the length of the main road for few kilometers. Obviously, there is more behind the wall, but the common passerby cannot make out what.

But now the cat has been let out of the bag. A brand new 'Dr. Ambedhkar Udayaan' is being constructed - thanks to the sole initiative of the current chief minister of the State of Uttar Pradesh - Madam Mayawati.

This park is estimated to cost the ex-chequer a whopping Rs. 300 crore. Actually the tax payers' money. It is supposed to have statue of not only Dr Ambhedkar, but of Mayawati herself. And apart from these, there are expected to be seven elephants made of granite, that will add to the glamour of the brand new park !

Why is it being built? Does the common citizen of UP want it? The answer as expected is a 'no'..

A most 'warped' sense of expression of respect to a great man? Or a way of spending public money, supposedly for a good cause and then siphoning a neat sum out of the budget?

Thankfully, the residents of Sector 15A, opposite which this park is being built, have now filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India, to obtain a stay. Apparently, environment related considerations have been totally ignored, in the zeal and the hurry to get this project off the ground and completed.

Two such Ambedhkar Udayaans were constructed in the City of Lucknow many years ago, by spending equally lavishly. One, very close to where I lived. And my personal observation was that the local residents went for their morning and evening strolls, walk, exercise and so on, to every single park in the area but the Ambedhkar Udyaan.

The question again is - Who are these parks being made for? And more importantly, Ms. Mayawati the self proclaimed disciple of Dr. Ambedhkar, who projects herself as probably the only individual of the present generation who truly remembers and respects this great champion of the 'downtrodden' should pause and think - Is this how Dr Ambedhkar would like to be remembered? How about spending the 300 crore rupees in improving the lives of the poor, the downtrodden, the so called 'Dalits' residing in UP?

Mayawati - wake up !Because the common man has woken up, and noted that behind your 'warped' sense of display of respect towards Ambedhkar, there's actually an attempt to hoodwink the public.

Comments

  1. The residents of Sector 15A have a strong case...some govt notification of 2006 stipulates mandatory Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) within 10 km of a protected area...and I believe the Okhla Bird Sanctuary nearby has already been designated as a protected area...

    The real reason for the 'Ambedkar Udayaan' I guess we all know...but what surprises me is how this 'lady' manages to befool the electorate of UP all the time...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Memories of the 1971 War.....

1. Flight Lt. Vijay Kumar Wahi - 10144 F(P) Vikram Wahi was my class mate in Class V, in 1971. When the Indo-Pak war broke out in December 1971, our Class V final examinations were on. Many 'fauji' families had to grapple with the stress of these exams, with the war as a backdrop. There were two papers each day, and between them, during the break, I remember seeing the Air Force's fighers landing close by at Palam, after a Combat Air Patrol sortie... On the 7th of December, 1971, we - all 10 year olds were busy writing whatever we had crammed, in our answer sheets, when all of a sudden, we noticed some commotion at the back of the classroom. We saw Vikram Wahi, breaking down, and sobbing away inconsolably. We ten year olds did not quite comprehend the problem, and got back to our answer sheets. That was the last we saw of Vikram Wahi. Till this day, I do not know where Vikram went, and where he is. On the 6th of December, Vikram's family received the news t

“Remember - upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all”

The title of this post is a well known quote of ‘Alexander The Great’ . Very apt - at a time when a good part of the Country’s population has been swept with the sentiment surrounding Anna Hazare’s ‘fast unto death’ as a means to force the Government to get the Lokpal Bill moving. People of all age groups and from all walks of life came forward to support Anna Hazare’s battle to eradicate corruption. All these people are convinced that all Netas and Babus in this Country are completely corrupt, and all Indians have suffered at their hands. This is the time and the opportunity to being them to book. So all these people gathered at India Gate, shouted, cursed the corrupt politicians and the government, raised slogans. And when the Government ‘gave in’ to the demands of the fasting Gandhian, it was victory for everyone ! According to this group, something really good had happened, at least a beginning, and now there was hope. “How naive people could be?” – I had thought then, and now. W

Sunset at Langkawi

The sea has always held a fascination for many and I am one of them. That it can offer an absolutely unbelievable, breathtaking spectacle, was a learning and one of the most fascinating experiences of a life time. In Langkawi, Malaysia, there are a countless number of beaches. Each one that you visit will provide a different view of the sea face. Nature's miracle begins to unfold at sunset time. As the sun begins to set, the sky changes many colors - one after the other with each scene created transitioning into the next one. You will for instance see the sky painted grey and the water surface filled with streaks of silver which is the water reflecting the sunlight of the setting sun. You turn you attention away for only a few moments, and the next scene unfolds which could be a bright orange sky - almost as if it is on fire. And very quickly you see the entire expanse of the horizon - the sky and the sea water turning bright orange. And, as the sun slowly goes down, the orange li