Aurangabad, Jan 14:
The restriction imposed due to the Corona crisis has diminished the enthusiasm of the followers of Dr Ambedkar this year as there was no crowd at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) Gate on the occasion of Nam Vistar Divas (Name Extension of Marathwada University) on Thursday.
The district administration had restricted the crowd of the people, rallies of the political parties and public meetings this year. Still, the followers of Dr Ambedkar came following the guidelines to avert the spread of Corona infection. They paid obeisance to the statue of the Dr Ambedkar and Shahid Stambh at University Gate since morning till around 9 pm.
In the morning, Bhante Nagsen, Bhante S Pradnyabodhi and Bhikkhu sangh conducted the collective prayer. The volunteers of the Samta Sainik Dal and Bhartiya Bauddha Mahasabha gave a guard of honour on the arrival of Republican Sena chief Anandraj Ambedkar in a disciplined manner. Kishor Johare and Ramesh Bansode led the guard of honour. Commissioner of police Dr Nikhil Gupta also paid tributes to Dr Ambedkar by garlanding his statue and the Shahid stambh.
Women were seen paying obeisance to the statues of Lord Gautam Buddha and Dr Babasheb Ambedkar at the university Gate. However, there was no crowd in this area. There were no stalls of the books, music CDs and others this year.
DCP Nikesh Khatmode, DCP Meena Makwana, ACP H S Bhapkar, PI Sachin Sanap, PI Manoj Pagare, PI Sambhaji Pawar had a close vigil at this area through the police control cell established at the University gate.
Various social and political organizations paid obeisance to Dr Ambedkar here. Anandraj Ambedkar, Sanjeev Bodhankar, Prof Jogendra Kawade, Jaideep Kawade, Suryakanta Gade, Dr Siddhant Gade, Annasaheb Katare, Vivek Chavan, Rahul Dambale, Suvarna Dambale and others visited the university gate.