Yogi Government Makes It Compulsory For All Offices In UP To Have BR Ambedkar's Portrait

Following chief minister Yogi Adityanath's orders,the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive to install portraits of B R Ambedkar at all offices, including the legislative assembly, legislative council, secretariat, all department offices and public sector undertakings at the earliest.

According to the directive issued by principal secretary Avneesh Kumar Awasthi on December 28, every portrait will have the Dalit icon's name mentioned as Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, along with his date of birth.

On December 6 , 2017, while speaking at the Ambedkar Mahasabha in Lucknow on the occasion of the Dalit icon's death anniversary, the chief minister had asked all government departments to have a picture of Ambedkar. During the event, the CM said that both the Union and state governments are determined to connect the Dalits to the mainstream. Yogi said that ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, projects named after Ambedkar were being developed.

Officials said that while the directive to put up Ambedkar portraits was issued late on Thursday to all divisional commissioners and district magistrates, it was received on Friday. Even the state-run educational institutions will have a picture of the architect of the Indian Constitution.

Welcoming the move, Lalji Prasad Nirmal, leader of Dalit outfit Ambedkar Mahasabha, met Yogi in Lucknow on Friday. In the evening, the official Twitter handle of the CM and various other ministers highlighted the order on social media.

Meanwhile, Agra district magistrate Gaurav Dayal said, "The directive will be followed and portraits of the national icon will be put up in all government offices and institutions on priority basis. Majority of offices in Agra district already have a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar."