Modi pays homage to Ambedkar on his 126th birth anniversary (Lead)

Nagpur (Maharashtra) April 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the architect of the Indian Constitution Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on the occasion of his 126th birth anniversary here on Friday.

Arriving here on a daylong visit for various engagements Modi started his day with a visit to the historic monument Deekshabhoomi where Babasaheb Ambedkar and over 600 000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14 1956.

This Dharmantar is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago.

Modi accompanied by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went around the Deekshabhoomi and later garlanded a large bust of Babasaheb Ambedkar installed there.

A series of functions has been organised to mark the Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday across Maharashtra including at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai where Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated following his death on December 6 1956.

Born on April 14 1891 Babasaheb Ambedkar was the first Law Minister of the Independent India the principal architect of the Indian Constitution who dedicated his life for the uplift of Dalits women and labourers and was posthumously conferred the country s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1990.

--IANS
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