Tuesday, January 21, 2025

CM unveils tallest Ambedkar statue

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Calls it a ‘Statue of Social Justice’ and claims his govt is working for uplift
of SC, ST,BC & Minority communities despite stiff opposition from TDP
PNS n Vijayawada

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the 206-foot tall Dr BR Ambedkar statue installed at the Swaraj Maidan here on Friday.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the statue by launching the laser show that illuminated it like an umbrella of fireworks amid wide applause of tens of thousands of people who thronged the grounds.
The dazzling 125-foot bronze statue was installed on an 81-foot pedestal made with the Kala Chakra Maha Mandala Buddhist architecture to make it attractive in its sky-high posture.
As the Chief Minister launched the laser show unveiling the statue, crowds greeted and cheered.
The giant statue was installed in an extent of sprawling 18.18 acres with an expenditure of Rs.404. 35crore is the first of its kind in the world as the precincts consist of a musical fountain, a 2000-capacity convention centre, food court, walking track and children’s area.
The Ambedkat Smruthi Vanam also consists of a detailed Ambedkar Experience section that depicts the life and times of the visionary.
The pedestal consists of ground plus two floors with the ground floor having four halls, with one of them being a cinema hall and the rest having digital museums detailing Ambedkar’s life.
While one of the four halls on the first floor is dedicated to displaying Dr Ambedkar’s attachment with South India, two of them would be dedicated for the museum and the fourth one would be utilised as a library.
The four halls on the second floor are being proposed to be used as libraries.
The entire premises were spruced up with beautiful flower plants and attractive marble-made pathways by Delhi designers.
Earlier, speaking at a massive Samajika Samatha Sankalpa Sabha at IG Stadium, the CM extolled Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar as a visionary leader who dedicated his entire life to uplifting weaker sections in various ways. He said that the 206-foot bronze statue is a Statue of Social Justice and a perfect embodiment of Grama Swaraj implemented by his government over the past 55 months.
The Chief Minister drew a parallel, stating that, just as the Statue of Liberty symbolises America, the Statue of Social Justice symbolises India. He mentioned that the government has championed social justice and Grama Swaraj by transparently implementing a plethora of welfare schemes for the uplift of SC, ST, BC, minority, and other economically backward communities, despite facing opposition from feudalistic forces led by TDP. These forces, he noted, have opposed the distribution of house sites to the poor and created obstacles through court cases, showing little regard for the welfare of oppressed classes.
In line with a feudalistic and dominant ideology, the TDP opposed English medium education for the poor, impeded their economic development, and resisted the digitisation of classrooms. The Chief Minister highlighted how the TDP, when in power, degraded government schools and encroached upon assigned lands.

Even 133 years after his birth and 66 years since his death, Dr Ambedkar’s ideals and philosophy remain relevant and inspiring, the Chief Minister said and observed that Ambedkar stands as a symbol of inspiration, having transformed the country’s social, economic, political, and gender spheres by fighting against feudal forces and the oppression of weaker sections.
“Ambedkar fought against feudal forces and the oppression of weaker sections while working for women’s liberation, people’s fundamental rights, constitutional rights, and the dignity of weaker sections,” the Chief Minister asserted, noting that the government has been implementing various welfare schemes inheriting the true spirit of Dr. Ambedkar.
The inauguration of the colossal Ambedkar statue signifies social awakening, and his towering personality inspires the safeguarding of fundamental rights and dignity, he observed. The Chief Minister declared that the Statue of Social Justice will not only compete nationally but also internationally.
While the TDP, led by Chandrababu Naidu, opposed the economic development of weaker sections, the Government, over the last 55 months, has ushered in social justice by appointing four Deputy Chief Ministers from SC, ST, BC, and minority communities. Additionally, 50% of nominated posts and contracts are reserved for them through special legislation.
“Moreover, 66% of the cabinet berths have been allocated to SC, ST, BC, and minorities, and they hold key positions such as Assembly Speaker, Legislative Council Chairman, nine ZP Chairman posts, 58 Municipal Chairman, 79 Corporation Chairmen, four Rajya Sabha memberships, and 117 Market Committee Chairman posts,” he added. The government has also created 2,10,000 government posts in the last 55 months, with 80% of them reserved for SC, ST, BC, and minority communities.
Highlighting tangible changes from Kuppam to Ichhapuram in RBKs, village clinics, family doctors, digital libraries, village and ward secretariats, and the volunteer system, the Chief Minister stated that the Government has spent Rs.2,47,000 crore on various DBT schemes, empowering weaker sections, especially women.
Deputy Chief Ministers P. Rajanna Dora and Amzath Basha, Civil Supplies Minister KV Nageswara Rao, Municipal Administration Minister Audimulapu Suresh, Social Welfare Minister M. Nagarjuna, Home Minister T. Vanita, MP V. Vijayasai Reddy, Tirupati MP Gurumurthy, MLC Mondithoka Arunkumar, and Railway Koduru MLA Srinivas also participated in the programme.

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