File Photo: Dr BR Ambedkar
OBC leader Alpesh Thakor today demanded that the Gujarat government should build a grand statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Mr Thakor, convener of OBC-ST-SC (OSS) Ekta Manch, is presently heading a movement to counter Patel quota stir.
The Gujarat government is building 182-meter tall statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel at a small island near the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river. The statue is named as 'Statue of Unity'.
"We are not against Sardar Patel's statue. Sardar Patel was the one who built this nation and brought everyone together. We demand that a similar-size statue of Ambedkar should also be built, as Ambedkar was the one who gave us the Constitution," Mr Thakor said.
"It is our demand to the state government that a grand statue of Ambedkar should be built near Bay of Khambhat or at any other place which the government finds suitable" he said.
Mr Thakor also demanded that Patel quota stir leaders should be stopped from using Sardar Patel's name for their agitation.
"Sardar Patel was not just Patel or Gujarati. He was a true Indian who worked for the upliftment of poors. He was the one who brought everyone together. While this agitation by Patel leaders is only creating rift between communities. It is unfortunate that Sardar's name is being misused," he alleged.
"Patel leaders are actually bringing disrespect to Sardar (Patel) by involving his name in such agitation aiming to divide Gujarat. We demand that Sardar Patel's name should not be used by Patel leaders" he said.
To mount pressure on the government, Thakor said that OSS Ekta Manch will demand reservation in private jobs too. "We will not let this government to give our rights to others. Now, we will also demand reservation for our community in private jobs too. We will also agitate to get reservation in cooperative sector as well as in self-financed education institutes," he added.