IANS/Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said Dr B R Ambedkar, the chief architect of Indian Constitution, was an inspiration to the oppressed peoples all over the world.
“Ambedkar was not merely a leader of the Dalits. He is an inspiration for all the poor, marginalised and oppressed peoples all over the world. Martin Luther King is known all over the world, but nobody knows Ambedkar, this is our misfortune,” Modi said after laying the foundation stone for the proposed world-class memorial to Ambedkar in the Indu Mills Compound in Dadar west.
Lauding the contributions of Ambedkar who too faced oppression all his life but who went ahead and only thought of the nation, Modi said: “At times I wonder - if Ambedkar was not there, where would I be? All that we are doing is repaying his debts sincerely.”
The prime minister also announced that November 26 would be celebrated as Constitution Day when each person would be made aware of the immense contributions of Ambedkar and his thoughts.
Modi, during his half day visit to Mumbai, also laid the foundation stone of the new Rs79bn container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and two new Mumbai Metro corridors - the 18.5km Dahisar East-Andheri West route estimated to cost Rs49bn and the 16.5km Dahisar East-Andheri East route estimated at Rs47bn, in quick succession.
Underlining the criticality of ports in the country’s development, Modi said that a vibrant port sector is very important for a nation like India blessed with a long coastline.
“Only port development is not enough. What we need it ‘port-led development’ with simultaneous development of roads, railways, warehouses, cold storages, etc,” he said.
On the importance of metro railway networks, Modi said it would be a boon to the rapid urbanisation witnessed around the country wherein urban growth should not be seen as a burden but as an opportunity.
“As many as 50 cities have been identified for metro rail development in the country. Besides, 400 railway stations in the heart of cities will also be developed in a big way with multi-storeyed buildings and other facilities,” Modi said.
Maharashtra Governor C V Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, federal ministers Nitin Gadkari and Santosh Gangwar, officials, several prominent Dalit leaders and other invitees also attended the programmes.
However, the entire Shiv Sena leadership starting from party president Uddhav Thackeray to city Mayor Snehal Ambekar boycotted the functions.
The opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party criticised Fadnavis for “converting a national function” into a party event and not inviting other party leaders.
“We welcome the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ambedkar Memorial, the project initiated by the Congress-NCP government. We regret Maharashtra government’s attempts to politicise it by portraying it as a BJP function,” said senior state Congress leader and legislator Sanjay Dutt.
“Fadnavis is a man with small heart. He should have personally invited NCP president Sharad Pawar who had championed the cause of Indu Mills. It was the NCP which had demanded that Ambedkar Memorial should be set up there,” said NCP spokesman Mahesh Tapase.
Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam thanked Modi for “carrying forward” the party’s project to make the world-class Ambedkar Memorial today.