Lucknow: Mayawati, national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and four-time former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, paid rich tributes to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary, while raising concerns over the implementation of his constitutional vision in present-day India.
Accompanied by senior party leaders and workers, Mayawati offered floral tributes at the BSP’s central office on Mall Avenue in Lucknow, remembering Ambedkar as the messiah of the oppressed and marginalized sections of society. She also expressed heartfelt gratitude to people across the country for paying homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution.
In her message, Mayawati said that despite India having a progressive and welfare-oriented Constitution envisioned by Dr Ambedkar, its core objectives have not been fully realised. She alleged that feudal and casteist mindsets, along with exploitative forces, continue to dominate governance, preventing the Constitution from achieving its true purpose of ensuring equality, justice, and dignity for all.
Questioning the gap between constitutional ideals and ground realities, she asked why India, despite possessing such a robust constitutional framework, has not yet been able to eliminate poverty, unemployment, caste discrimination, and social injustice affecting millions of people, particularly those belonging to the “Bahujan Samaj.”
Mayawati asserted that a deeper introspection into these issues would strengthen the movement for “social transformation and economic emancipation,” a vision championed by Dr Ambedkar. She emphasized that the BSP, as his ideological successor, remains committed to advancing these goals through democratic means.
Highlighting the contributions of Dr Ambedkar, she noted that his efforts ensured dignity, equal rights, and the principle of “one person, one vote” for every citizen of India. She also recalled that despite his monumental contributions, it took years for successive central governments to confer the Bharat Ratna upon him, a recognition she said was achieved during the tenure of V. P. Singh.
Mayawati also referred to the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations under the same government, which granted 27 percent reservation in government jobs and education to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), marking a significant step towards social justice.
On the occasion, BSP workers and supporters from across Uttar Pradesh gathered at the iconic Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal along the Gomti riverfront in Lucknow to pay homage. The memorial witnessed a steady influx of visitors throughout the day, as families and party members offered tributes at the grand domed structure dedicated to Dr Ambedkar.
Due to ongoing maintenance work at the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal near Delhi, many people from western Uttar Pradesh also visited Lucknow this year to mark the occasion.
Similar commemorative events were held across the country at zonal levels, where BSP leaders and cadres reiterated their commitment to achieving political power as a means to ensure social justice and equality. Slogans such as “Baba Saheb’s mission remains incomplete – BSP will fulfill it” echoed during the programmes.
Mayawati further urged governments to use Ambedkar Jayanti as an opportunity to assess the safety, dignity, and development of the Bahujan community. She stressed that only through sincere evaluation and corrective measures can systemic caste-based discrimination and exploitation be effectively addressed.
Concluding her message, she said that while the people have endured hardship with resilience, governments must not neglect their constitutional and moral responsibility to uplift the underprivileged by ensuring employment, social security, and a life of dignity.
“True tribute to Baba Saheb lies in implementing his vision in letter and spirit,” she said, reaffirming her party’s commitment to the ideals of justice, equality, and empowerment.
