Statue of Liberty is USA’s identity, Statue of Social Justice is AP's Pride: CM Jagan

Amidst electrifying chants of "Jai Bheem" and "Jai Jagan," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed a sea of supporters specifically from marginalised communities who traveled from various districts to be part of the historic celebration of social upliftment and justice with the unveiling ceremony of the world’s largest ever BR Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada today. With a 206-ft tall bronze statue of the messiah of the oppressed standing proudly in the heart of the city (Ambedkar Swaraj Maidan), the YSRCP government conveyed a clear and bold message to the over 75% populace of the State belonging to SC, ST, BC & Minority communities that it considers them the ‘BACKBONE CLASS’ and is committed to empower them - financially, politically and socially.

In a powerful address that infused enthusiasm and pumped ‘josh’ into the public and party cadre alike, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy made his vision clear ~ to transform Andhra Pradesh into an egalitarian society following the footsteps of Dr. BR Ambedkar.

In his opening remark, the Chief Minister set the narrative, saying, “I am very happy to see that the land of Bezawada (Vijayawada), once a renowned hub of elite capitalism, has now become the epicenter of social justice.” He added, "The Ambedkar Statue in Vijayawada will inspire future generations to fight inequality. This is not just a statue, it is much more than that. It is a symbol of equality and it will remind you each day about your rights (people’s power). It is here to show my commitment and the work we have done in the last 56 months. It is a powerful figure that will change the mindset of the capitalists as it stands as a voice to the voiceless.”

CM Jagan immediately drew a parallel with USA’s iconic Statue of Liberty and said, "When we speak of the Statue of Liberty, it stands as an icon and identity for the United States. Today, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh has proudly etched its name on the global stage with the world's tallest tribute to Dr. BR Ambedkar ~ the Statue of Social Justice.”

Elaborating on how YSRCP Government followed the ideals of BR Ambedkar in transforming lives, CM Jagan stated, "From Kuppam to Ichchapuram, we have revolutionized every village and every household by empowering women through education  as envisaged by Dr. BR Ambedkar. We have also worked tirelessly towards bringing in administrative and agricultural reforms, industrial and infrastructural overhaul while prioritising social justice." 

Reminding people that untouchability still exists even after 75 years of Independence, CM Jagan said, "Leaving government schools in dilapidated conditions where underprivileged children are educated, is a form of untouchability practiced by Chandrababu Naidu and his cronies. Not providing permanent houses for backward classes is another form of untouchability practised by TDP. Criticising the distribution of smart tablets to underprivileged children studying in government schools is also a form of untouchability. This is in absolute contrast to the ideals of the YSRCP government that has successfully implemented Ambedkar's ideology. We have focused entirely on the overall development and progress of the backward classes.”

Highlighting how the YSRCP government fulfilled Ambedkar's dream of social justice by providing 70% of ministerial positions in the cabinet to the backward communities, CM Jagan mentioned, “Out of the eight Rajya Sabha MPs nominated by the YSRCP, 50% of them were from the SC & BC communities. In addition, the government allocated nine out of 13 Zila Parishad Chairman posts to backward classes and sent a total of 29 MLCs belonging to backward castes to the legislative council since coming to power in 2019.” 

Soon after the address, the CM alongwith his ministerial army moved to the Swaraj Maidan where they unveiled the 206 ft statue. This was followed by a spectacular show of fireworks, drones as well as laser lights as part of one of the most memorable tributes to the iconic social reformer. 

Statue Of Social Justice - Salient Features

The 125-feet bronze Ambedkar statue built with an investment of Rs 404 crore, is  placed on an 81 feet pedestal pyramidical base. It is the world's tallest Ambedkar statue (206 feet tall). 

It has a 166-pillar corridor, and 36 murals made with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) made by a Vadodara-based sculptor who played the key role in the construction of India’s new parliament.

The base of the statue is called the ‘Kala Chakra Maha Mandapam’ made out of Buddhist Architecture with a (G +2) RCC framed pedestal building structure cladded with Pink Sandstone from Rajasthan, also has a 33,800 sq ft ‘Vihara Museum’, and a 75-seater Chaitya Mini auditorium in the premises.

The Dr BR Ambedkar Swaraj Maidan also boasts of unique features including a state-of-the-art library, a park, an auditorium, and a museum that will give a peek into the life and times of the visionary leader.

The ‘Statue of Social Justice’ premises also houses an experience center, a convention center with a seating capacity of 2000 people, a food court, a children’s play area, and musical fountains.

Also Read: In Pics: CM YS Jagan, Wife YS Bharathi Attend Sharmila's Son's Engagement