‘Not opposed to naming varsity after Ambedkar’

Denying that he had ever been anti-Dalit, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, on Thursday, clarified that he had never opposed to lending Dr BR Ambedkar’s name to Marathwada University.

Denying that he had ever been anti-Dalit, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, on Thursday, clarified that he had never opposed to lending Dr BR Ambedkar’s name to Marathwada University.

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“There was never any opposition to giving Ambedkar’s name [to the University]. We only insisted that the name Marathwada had historical importance and therefore it should also be retained,” Thackeray said in his statement. He added that Dalit leader R S Gavai and NCP leader and Union minister Sharad Pawar were aware of his stand on the issue and that they should reveal the truth.

Earlier, the Sena had aggressively opposed the renaming of Marathwada University after Dr Ambedkar, a demand made by Dalit outfits. Thackeray also blamed a “certain section of the media for always targeting the Sena and its pro-Marathi stand in order to create a misunderstanding,” before adding, “The Sena has always taken brickbats for the cause of the Marathi manoos. No matter what opposition we face, we will keep fighting for the cause.”