Ambedkar Jayanti observed; protests, tensions in Punjab, UP

Protests and tensions in parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and a political slugfest marked the Ambedkar Jayanti today, a day top leaders, including President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi paid tributes to the Dalit icon on his 127th birth anniversary.

Kovind became the first President to visit the birthplace of the chief architect of the Constitution in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow to pay homage on the occasion.

Kovind urged people to follow the path of peace, harmony and brotherhood shown by Ambedkar.

His statement assumes significance in the backdrop of the April 2 nationwide Dalit bandh, which saw large-scale violence in several states, including Madhya Pradesh where more than half a dozen people lost their lives.

"The society needs 'samrasta' (harmony) today and not 'samar' (conflict or war)...It needs non-violence and peace," he said at a function in Mhow, where the MP government has built a large memorial dedicated to Ambedkar.

Kovind said, "The country saw 13 presidents before me. I came to know I am the first president to visit Ambedkar's birthplace on the occasion of his birth anniversary."
Modi said, "A son of a poor mother, belonging to a very backward community, this partner of yours is if today the prime minister, that is too due to Babasaheb Ambedkar."