Congress all in readiness to celebrate BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anneversary

New Delhi: The Congress will hold an year-long celebrations to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar from April 14, 2015 to April 14, 2016. An AICC committee with Sonia Gandhi as its chairperson and Rahul Gandhi as cochairperson will look over the party’s observance of the Ambedkar centenary across the country.

The move comes after the Congress similarly celebrated Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary last year. The Congress move on Ambedkar centenary signals two factors; to send out a positive signals to the Dalits across the country, especially in the poll-bound UP and Bihar at a time when the party is facing competitors such as BSP for the Dalit vote-bank. Secondly, this is also aimed to pre-empt any BJP’s bid, as it did in the case of Sardar Patel, to hijack the legacy of Dalit icon. During the yearlong celebration, the Congress will publicise Ambedkar’s contributions and writings