Ambedkar's death anniversary declared public holiday in UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday bowled a political googly at arch rival Mayawati when he announced December 6 -- the death anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar -- as a public holiday.

Targetted by the Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief on various occasions and labelled as anti-Dalit, the chief minister made the announcement at a function held to mark the 124th birth anniversary of Ambedkar.

Earlier, he garlanded the statue of the Dalit icon in the state assembly premises and then paid floral tributes at an urn holding the ashes of Ambedkar.

Recalling the services of Ambedkar and his efforts to get the weaker and backward castes their rightful place in the society, the chief minister said declaring a public holiday on his death anniversary would be a fitting tribute to the framer of the Indian constitution.