After a determined two-day hunger strike, the Republican Party of India (RPI) has successfully secured a site for the installation of a full-length statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The hunger strike, led by Navi Mumbai RPI Youth President Adv. Yashpal Ohol, was called off after the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) provided an official letter confirming a designated site for the statue. The NMMC also agreed to erect the statue on behalf of the corporation.

The hunger strike, which began on Tuesday near the Ambedkar Memorial in Airoli, saw participation from several key RPI leaders and supporters, including State Vice President Sidram Ohol, General Secretary Parameshwar Gaikwad, and other activists such as Sasikala Jadhav, Shilatai Bodde, and Kavita Bhandare. They had resolved not to end the strike until a location was finalized for the statue.

The breakthrough came when Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik personally visited the hunger strike site and, along with RPI’s Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, facilitated an agreement with the NMMC. Additional Commissioner Sunil Pawar handed over the confirmation letter to the strikers, officially designating the site for the statue.

Following the confirmation, MLA Naik fed juice to the hunger strikers, symbolically ending their fast. Prominent Republican Party leaders, including United Republican Party’s Tansen Nanvare and Republican Sena’s regional president Kakasaheb Khambalkar, also showed their support throughout the protest.

The hunger strike’s success was credited to the efforts of several RPI activists and office bearers, including Balu Gaikwad, Imran Sheikh, Prateek Jadhav, and many others who worked tirelessly to achieve this victory for the community.

The writer is a freelancer