Largest' Ambedkar statue in North America to be unveiled on Oct 14
Washington (PTI): The "largest" statue of B R Ambedkar outside India is all set to be unveiled in Maryland on October 14, the organisers have said.
The 19-foot statue, named "Statue of Equality", has been made by renowned artist and sculptor Ram Sutar, who also built the statue of Sardar Patel installed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
The statue of Ambedkar, the key architect of India's Constitution, is part of the Ambedkar International Center (AIC) being built on 13 acres of land in Accokeek city of Maryland.
"This is the largest statue of Babasaheb outside India and has been installed as a part of the Ambedkar Memorial being constructed at this center," said the AIC.
"Large number of representatives of Ambedkarite movement and his followers are expected to attend the event from across the USA and other parts of the world," it said.
According to the AIC, this memorial will serve to spread Babasaheb's messages and teachings and showcase a symbol of equality and human rights.
Representatives from various countries are expected to attend the status unveiling ceremony on October 14.
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SC notice to Centre on PIL against Muslim personal law sections being 'discriminatory' against women
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the Centre's response on a PIL challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, on the ground that those are allegedly discriminatory against women.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Panchol took note of the submissions made by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who appeared in the matter for petitioners Poulomi Pavini Shukla and the Nyaya Naari Foundation, and issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The plea says the current Shariat inheritance rules are "manifestly discriminatory" against women, often granting them only half or less of the share allocated to their male counterparts.
Bhushan said the 1937 Act violates Article 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution.
He said matters of succession are civil in nature and do not constitute an "essential religious practice" protected under Article 25.
"Saying women will get half or even less than half compared to male counterparts is discriminatory," the lawyer said.
