I never opposed giving Ambedkar''s name to varsity: Thackeray

PTI | 07:05 PM,May 18,2011

Mumbai, May 18 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today hit out his political opponents for alleging that he had opposed renaming of Marathwada University after Dr B R Ambedkar. "Let me make it clear once again. I never opposed renaming of the university. I had suggested that the name Marathwada University be retained, and Ambedkar's name be added to it," Thackeray said in a statement. The Sena chief's comments came in response to criticism by political rivals, including one-time protege and present Maharashtra PWD minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, who have questioned the ideological contradictions in the saffron party's newly-formed alliance with dalit leader Ramdas Athawale's RPI. "RPI leader R S Gavai came to my residence and I suggested that Ambedkar's name be added to the existing name of the university. He liked the idea and phoned Sharad Pawar (the then Chief Minister) who also gave his approval," Thackeray said. "My stance was that while renaming the varsity, the pride of Marathwada region should remain intact," he said. At a recent NCP meeting, Bhujbal had ridiculed coming together of RPI and the opposition Sena-BJP, commenting that leaders of both groups should clarify their stands on various issues, such as reservations, where their respective views were poles apart. In 1994, the Marathwada University, set up in 1958, was renamed as `Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University' after a long and often violent agitation which took on the "dalits versus non-dalits" hues.