B.R.

Ambedkar's memorial in Mhow

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demanded the Centre
to give the state permanent ownership of the land on which the memorial of
Dalit icon B R Ambedkar stands.

By India Today Online: President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid

Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday led the nation in
paying homage to Babsaheb Ambedkar on his 122nd birth anniversary.

In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demanded

Centre to give the state permanent ownership of the land on which the
memorial of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar stands.

Chouhan was addressing a gathering at the birth place of Ambedkar on the

occasion of the latter's 122nd birth anniversary.

"The land on which the memorial stands is owned by the defence ministry.
If we are given permanent ownership of the land, we are ready to
compensate it by offering the land twice the size of the current plot to the
defence ministry," Chouhan said.

Ambedkar was born in Mhow cantonment town on April 14, 1891 and the
state government has built a grand memorial at his birth place in Kali
Paltan area.

Chouhan said if the Centre hands over the land to the state government, it
will eliminate many procedural hassles and help his government in better
organisation of the annual function in memory of Ambedkar.

"The government faces a lot of difficulty in getting permission from the

Army for making preparations for the anniversary celebrations. This year
we got the clearance barely five days ago and that too when I spoke to
Defence Minister, A K Antony on the issue, leaving us with very little time to
make arrangements for the celebration" Chouhan said.