Centre's nod for Ambedkar Memorial at Indu Mills in Mumbai

Decks have been cleared by the Centre to transfer the prime land at Indu Mills in Mumbai to the  Maharashtra government for constructing a memorial for B R Amedkar.

"The government of India has taken a view to make available this land for use to the government of Maharashtra for the construction of a befitting memorial," Textiles Minister Anand Sharma said in identical statements in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The ashes of Babasaheb Ambedkar are interred at Chaityabhoomi, situated in the vicinity of the 12.5 acre land of India United Mill, popularly known as Indu Mill, under the National Textile Corporation at Prabhadevi in central Mumbai.
 
"The government has initiated the process to give effect to this decision and I will be moving the necessary legislative proposal for Parliamentary approval. I seek the support and endorsement of the House," Sharma said.

Dalit outfits had set December 6 -- Ambedkar's death anniversary -- as the deadline for the state to decide on the issue, failing which they had threatened to forcibly occupy the mill premises.

Sharma said the decision was taken after taking into consideration public sentiments, in response to the request of the Maharashtra government and taking note of the unanimous resolution passed by both Houses of Maharashtra Legislature.

Sharma hailed Ambedkar as one of India's 'tallest' leaders and acknowledged his contribution in guiding the process of framing the Constitution.

A delegation of Members of Parliament from Maharashtra, led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to press for the transfer of the land.

The Maharashtra government had proposed a grand memorial near Chaityabhoomi -- Babasaheb Ambedkar's final resting place in Dadar in central Mumbai -- a few years ago.