In a politically loaded decision, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to set up an Ambedkar Cultural Centre close to Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet in Lucknow on Friday. The BJP move is being understood to be a conspicuous step to woo the Dalits before the 2022 assembly polls.
President Ram Nath Kovind is expected to lay the foundation for the Ambedkar Cultural Centre at a programme scheduled to be held in Lok Bhawan (Lucknow) on June 29.
“Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be present on the occasion while Dalit leaders will also be invited,” well placed officials said in Lucknow on Saturday.
This will be the second such centre after BSP president Mayawati constructed a sprawling Ambedkar Memorial spread in over 40 acres at Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow in 1995.
The Ambedkar Cultural Centre will have a 25 feet high statue of Dr BR Ambedkar along with landscaping and will be spread over 5,493.52 sq metres in government land opposite Aishbagh Idgah. The UP government has decided to provide land free of cost for the Ambedkar Centre.
The Cultural Centre will have a 750 auditorium, library, picture gallery, museum, multipurpose hall, dormitory, cafeteria, parking and other basic facilities. The government is expected to spend Rs 45.04 crore on this project.