The Maharashtra government on Tuesday declared that a public holiday will be observed in Mumbai on December 6 to mark the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.
As per a circular issued by the government, all state government and administrative offices in Mumbai and its sub-districts will remain closed on Ambedkar’s death anniversary on Wednesday, December 6.
The declaration followed a letter from Varsha Gaikwad, the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president and MLA, to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging him to designate December 6 as a public holiday.
In the letter, Gaikwad wrote, “Ambedkar dedicated his entire life to eradicating casteism and the development of the poor, Dalits, and backward classes. On his death anniversary, large crowds come not only from Maharashtra but also from abroad at Chaitya Bhoomi.” She further said that since it is a working day, many followers will be unable to pay respects at his memorial at Shivaji Park and many state organisations have thereby been demanding a holiday for many years.
On December 6, the Central Railway will also operate 18 special long-distance trains to and from Mumbai and 12 extra local services to cater to the rush of people in the city.
Additional personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) will also be deployed at Dadar and other stations in Mumbai.
As per a release, an additional 140 personnel of the RPF and 250 personnel of the GRP will be deployed at Dadar station on Tuesday and Wednesday, besides the deployment of 24 extra personnel of the RPF each at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Kalyan stations.
People from various corners of Maharashtra and other states visit Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on December 6 every year to pay tributes to Ambedkar on his death anniversary.
(with PTI inputs)
Comments
0 comment