Ban on Shourie's book on Ambedkar only with law ministry's nod: CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on Saturday said he would get the contents of columnist Arun Shourie's book on Dr B R Ambedkar examined by the state law ministry before taking a decision on the demand for banning it.

Talking to the media in Nagpur, he said he had noted the demand of dalit leaders in this connection, but felt it would not be proper to take a decision without studying the contents of the book.

Former Maharashtra minister Ramdas Athavale has demanded a ban on Shourie's book Worshipping False Gods: Ambedkar and the Facts Which Have Been Erased, saying the book had distorted the image of Dr Ambedkar and hurt the sentiments of the dalits.

Savita Ambedkar, Dr Ambedkar's widow, also spoke on similar lines and alleged that the police in Maharashtra were anti-dalit and a section of them believed in Shourie's writings. She also called Shourie a wicked man.

The chief minister rejected RPI leader Prakash Ambedkar's charge that the state police was communalised and divided between loyalties for the Shiv Sena, Congress and gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli. It was wrong to make such a statement, he said.

Joshi denied that there was any move to divest Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde of the home portfolio following the recent police firing at Ghatkopar.

In his book, Shourie says Dr Ambedkar opposed the freedom struggle and collaborated with the British for material gains. The columnist also states that Dr Ambedkar only piloted the draft Constitution and that he no way could be called the father of the Constitution.

UNI

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