KOLHAPUR: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday has assured a dalit community delegation from Bedag in Sangli district of legal action against those responsible for demolishing the pillars built for an arch at the village entrance that was to be named after Babasaheb Ambedkar.
The community said they had collected funds to construct the arch and the 23ft pillars were already up when they were demolished. Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, said the arch will be reconstructed.
Close to 450 people from 150 Boudh families abandoned their homes in Bedag three days ago and began to march to Mumbai disheartened after the gram panchayat demolished the pillars of the under-construction arch last month. They were at Islampur in Sangli district on Thursday when the delegation was told to come to Mumbai.
The protesters said that people from the upper caste had opposed the arch even though a no-objection certificate was granted in January to construct it.
Mahesh Kamble, who led the delegation to meet Fadnavis, said, “The deputy CM agreed to both our demands and told local officials to file cases against those responsible for demolishing the pillars and to get the arch rebuilt. We will wait till Saturday. If the orders are not followed, we will continue our march to Mumbai.”
Sangli zilla parishad’s acting chief executive officer Nikhil Oswal told TOI that an enquiry report by deputy block development officer shows that the construction was illegal.
“As per 2018 government resolution, no individual or private body can erect an arch in the name of great persons. It has to be done through the government machinery. The report also states that no due process was followed when the pillars were demolished,” he said.
Sarpanch Umesh Patil said they had granted the NoC on the condition that it should fulfill the criteria as per 2018 GR.
“There was a demand for having photos of all great men on the arch and everyone agreed. They started the construction but it was demolished after higher authorities inspected it and found that the construction was illegal as it was started without taking any permission,” Patil said.
He added that there has been no discord between the communities in Bedag for decades.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights
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