Deeksha Bhoomi, Nagpur, where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with millions of his followers (1956), has become the centre of a big controversy with numerous allegations against the politician-cum-chairman of the Ambedkar Smaraka Nidhi, R. S. Gavai, who invited the Brahmin Bahuguna as chief guest this time for the annual conversion ceremony attended by thousands of dalits from all over India. I was present along with many dalits from TN but we did not like a Brahmin coming to our sacred Deeksha Bhoomi & polluting the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Dr. Bhadant Anand Kausalayayan, the Buddhist monk in charge of the Deeksha Bhoomi for 20 years, is sought be eased out and he has lodged a police complaint saying that his life is threatened. Police guards were posted to protect the land Lakhs of rupees have been swindled. The developments at Nagpur have perturbed dalits all over India and we strongly suspect the hands of RSS in creating this trouble. RSS headquarters, incidentally, is at Nagpur. Through DV we call upon all our dalit comrades and our sympthisers to mobilise public opinion and see that this land secured by the efforts of Ambedkar does not fall into the hands of corrupt politicians and through them pass to our very enemies.
Hyderabad: B. Parameswara Rao, president, All-India Ambedkarites Conference writes that AIAC is organising a “Dalit Summit” in the first week of Dec. in Bombay to call upon dalits to express their anger over Poona Pact. The high command will meet in Delhi around Jan. 26 to demonstrate the dalit protest.
