Mayawati backs Ambedkar statue demand amid Gwalior court row

Mayawati waded into a controversy brewing in Gwalior, by asking that a statue of Bhim Rao Ambedkar be installed on the High Court premises as being demanded by a section of advocates.

The Bahujan Samaj Party chief took to X, criticising the “casteist thinking” of certain advocates who opposed the installation of the statue. 

“Despite inflammatory statements on social media, no action has been taken against them. Opponents of Baba Saheb have to understand that the Bahujan Samaj, which has been neglected for centuries, now wants to get its respect.”

The controversy goes back to mid-February, when some advocates of the Gwalior High Court submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief justice, asking for a statue of Ambedkar to be installed in the court’s premises. Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait gave his verbal consent for the same.

After this, a committee was formed at the district court level. The local public works department built a platform for the statue on the premises. Donations were collected and an order for the construction of the statue was given with an advance of ₹2 lakhs. 

However, the High Court Bar Association then opposed it on the ground that it had not been informed of the decision. A committee formed at the Principal Registrar’s office was also divided over the issue, with only two of five members agreeing to the installation.

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Since then, there have been sit-ins and protests, with matters coming to a head on May 11, when one section of lawyers tried to hoist the tri-colour on the platform erected for the statue, and another group opposed it.

Mayawati’s post added that she was requesting the Governor, the High Court and the chief minister to remove the obstacles in the way of installing the statue, and immediately set it up.

The issue is also blowing up with the Bhim Army, who have also been protesting against the dissenters.

Mayawati’s social media post is not isolated, as similar posts have been circulating around for a while now.

India