Lucknow: Azad Samaj Party national president and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad visited the Bodhisattva Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Mahasabha and Asthi Kalash site at 10 Vidhan Sabha Marg in Hazratganj, Lucknow. He paid tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s sacred ashes and issued a strong warning against any attempt by the government to shift the memorial.
Describing the site as a “holy pilgrimage place” (Teerth), Azad said, “Dr. Savita Ambedkar installed Baba Saheb’s ashes here. Babasaheb is the architect of the Indian Constitution, the father of Indian democracy, and the champion of equal rights for every citizen, especially women, farmers, and the weaker sections. This place has been visited and honoured by former Presidents, former Chief Justice of India, former Prime Ministers, former Chief Ministers, and even the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Chandrashekhar Azad said he received multiple complaints and letters informing him that the Uttar Pradesh government is planning to remove the Asthi Kalash from its current location, directly opposite the Vidhan Sabha and near Lok Bhawan, to expand the buildings. He alleged that a conspiracy is underway to shift the sacred ashes elsewhere.
He stated, “This is not just a memorial. It houses the Bodhi tree planted by former President K.R. Narayanan and the Dhamma Chakra. Crores of followers of Baba Saheb and Lord Buddha have deep faith attached to this place. We will not allow anyone to play with their emotions.”
Azad recalled that similar attempts were made earlier to remove the Bodhi tree and break its platform, but they were stopped due to strong protests. He made it clear that his party and Ambedkarite supporters will resist any such move.
“We do not want to protest, but if the government tries to shift or remove Baba Saheb’s ashes, we will be forced to launch a massive political agitation across Uttar Pradesh, from streets to Parliament,” he warned.
Azad drew a parallel with the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and said, “If the government can respect the faith of millions for Ram Mandir, then why can’t it respect the faith attached to Baba Saheb’s ashes? You cannot shift sacred relics from every religious place and put them at one location. Every site has its own historical and emotional importance.”
He added that the government can carry out development and beautification work at the site, but it must not touch the Asthi Kalash or the Bodhi tree. “We are not against development, but we will not tolerate any attack on our faith,” he asserted.
The Bahujan community is deeply agitated over the reported move. For them, Dr. Ambedkar’s ashes are sacred relics, not ordinary symbols. After Babasaheb’s Mahaparinirvan in 1956, portions of his ashes were distributed across the country. Two major sites in Lucknow preserve these relics so that people in Uttar Pradesh can pay their respects.
1. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal (Gomti Nagar) This is the largest memorial where the sacred ashes are kept beneath the main dome.
2. Bodhisattva Ambedkar Mahasabha at 10 Vidhan Sabha Marg (Hazratganj) This site contains the Asthi Kalash installed by Dr. Savita Ambedkar, the historic Bodhi tree, and other structures of reverence.
Every year on Mahaparinirvan Diwas (December 6), lakhs of devotees gather at these places. The community fears that shifting the prominent Hazratganj site would be a direct insult to their sentiments and historical legacy.
Chandrashekhar Azad appealed to all Ambedkarite organisations and followers, irrespective of their political affiliations, to rise above party lines and unite to protect Babasaheb’s legacy. He said, “We are not afraid of death or jail. We are ready to make any sacrifice to protect this site.”
Weighing in on this issue, Ram Babu Sudarshan, General Secretary of the Ambedkar Vahini, an affiliate of the Samajwadi Party, too issued a sharp reaction, terming the government's move a "direct assault on the dignity, self-respect, and faith of the Bahujan society." He emphasized that the current site, situated directly opposite the UP Legislative Assembly, holds profound emotional significance for millions of Dalits, people from backward classes, and proponents of the Constitution.
"The relics of Babasaheb housed within the Ambedkar Mahasabha complex are not merely a monument; they serve as an emotional epicenter for the millions who draw inspiration from his struggles," Sudarshan stated. He further asserted, "Any attempt to displace this historic site will not be tolerated."
Sudarshan accused the BJP's "double-engine" government of acting pursuant to a "calculated conspiracy" aimed at undermining Babasaheb's legacy, even as they selectively pay homage to him solely on his birth anniversary. He characterized the proposed changes in Aishbagh as a "gross disregard for social justice, constitutional values, and the sentiments of the Bahujan community."