Ambedkar statue is manifestation of social justice: CM Jagan

Vijayawada: Hailing Babasaheb Ambedkar as a visionary leader, who dedicated his entire life for the uplift of weaker sections, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the 206-feet bronze statue installed in the historical Swaraj Maidan here manifested Social Justice and Grama Swaraj.

The YSRC government promoted these two causes with a sense of great dedication in the last 55 months, the Chief Minister said.

Addressing a mammoth Samajika Samatha Sankalpa Sabha at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium here on Friday before unveiling the statue, he said, “What the Statue of Liberty is to America, the Statue of Social Justice is to India.”

Jagan Mohan Reddy said his government ushered in social justice and Grama Swaraj by implementing a plethora of welfare schemes in full transparency for the uplift of SC, ST, BC, minority and other economically backward communities fighting against odds.

He said, “Feudalistic forces and their supporters led by Telugu Desam have transformed the shape and colour of untouchability by opposing distribution of house sites to the poor and creating obstacles through court cases.”

“The TD never cared for the welfare of the oppressed classes. Following the feudalistic and dominant ideology, it practised a different form of untouchability by also opposing English medium education to the poor, their economic development and digitalisation of classrooms.”

The Naidu-led party had brought down the quality of education in government schools and grabbed assigned lands when it was in power, he alleged.

The CM said, “Even after 133 years of Dr Ambedkar’s birth and 66 years of the death, his ideals and philosophy continue to be relevant and inspire us. We are experiencing untouchability in different forms despite 77 years of Independence,” he said.

Stating that B.R. Ambedkar stood as a symbol of inspiration that changed the country’s social, economic, political and gender spheres, he noted: “Babasaheb fought against feudal forces and against the oppression of weaker sections while also working for women’s liberation, safeguarding the people’s fundamental rights, constitutional rights and dignity of weaker sections.”

The Chief Minister said the YSRC government has been implementing various welfare schemes by inheriting the true spirit of Dr Ambedkar.

“Under the YSRC rule, some 66 per cent of the Cabinet berths have been given to the SC, ST, BC and minorities they also hold the posts of Assembly Speaker, Legislative Council Chairman, nine posts of ZP chairman, 58 municipal chairman, 79 corporation chairmen, four Rajya Sabha memberships and 117 market committee chairman posts,” the CM said.

The government has also created 2,10,000 government posts in the last 55 months out of which 80 per cent were from the SC, ST, BC and minority communities.

Jagan Mohan Reddy explained that from Kuppam to Ichhapuram, “the revolutionary changes are tangible in RBKs, village clinics, family doctors, digital libraries, village and ward secretariats and the volunteer system.”

The government has so far spent Rs 2,47,000 crore on various DBT schemes empowering the weaker sections, especially women,” he said.