Umaria – Incidents of intolerance towards Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of India's Constitution, refuse to die down. While reports of his statues being vandalized pour in from across the country, now his portraits are facing similar disrespect. In a shocking development, the revered portrait of Babasaheb has been abruptly removed from the video conference room in the administrative building of the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
This has sparked deep outrage among employees from the SC-ST community. Is this just an "accident" or a glaring symbol of neglect towards the Bahujan society?
The thermal station, located in Birsinghpur and operating under the Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited, is currently headed by Chief Engineer H.K. Tripathi. Employees allege that the Chief Engineer's behavior towards SC/ST staff is discriminatory, breeding widespread dissatisfaction.
According to staff, both Babasaheb and Mahatma Gandhi's portraits had been hanging side by side in the video conference room for a long time. However, during a recent meeting, workers noticed only Gandhi's picture on the wall – Babasaheb's was nowhere to be seen. "If this was done deliberately, it must be seen as a symbol of discrimination against the Bahujan community," said one employee.
The issue boiled over during a program held on Saturday, November 15, to mark Birsa Munda Jayanti. The event kicked off with tributes to the tribal icon, with speakers recalling 'Dharti Aaba's' contributions to India's freedom struggle. Amid the discussions, employees openly raised the portrait removal.
A senior staffer, speaking anonymously, said: "This isn't just about a picture – it's proof of the Chief Engineer's harshness and bias towards the Bahujan society. We've decided to first talk to him. If the portrait broke by accident or for some other reason, we'll personally donate a new one to ensure it's reinstalled with respect. But if it's not restored, we'll file a formal complaint and escalate it to higher authorities."
Employees revealed that the previous Chief Engineer, two years ago, was empathetic towards the Bahujan community and had even initiated a project to install a Birsa Munda statue at the station. Sadly, that initiative now gathers dust.
Staff emphasized that Dr. Ambedkar's contributions to religion, nation, and society are invaluable. He led the fight against untouchability, drafted the Constitution, and made groundbreaking strides in economics and archaeology. "Honoring Babasaheb isn't just an SC-ST issue – it's a matter of national pride. Such incidents sow division in society," one worker asserted.
The event also delved into key concerns for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, including the dishonest implementation of reservations enshrined in the Constitution by Dr. Ambedkar. Under the 2025 promotion rules, seniority is being ignored, with non-reserved categories prioritized for senior posts – a move deemed unconstitutional.
Participants urged all officials and members from the Shahdol division to join the 'Grand Public Meeting and Provincial Conference' on November 23 at Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti Maidan in Bhopal.
Key attendees included AJAX district president Pritam Kol, block president Vinay Singh and Priyanka Jatav, and state president of the Scheduled Caste-Tribe Youth Students Union (MP), who all agreed to meet the Chief Engineer on Monday to address the portrait issue.
The Mooknayak has reached out to Chief Engineer H.K. Tripathi via message for comment on the removal of Baba Saheb's picture. This story will be updated upon receiving a response.
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