India’s £3m property row with two London residents
Image captionIn a quiet corner of London, one of India's most venerated"founding fathers" continues to leave his mark.
Step through its doors, past a bust of Dr Ambedkar draped in garlands, and guests can see rooms reconstructed in his memory, with legal documents strewn across a dining room table. His glasses lie next to dog-eared books on the bedside table. Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Modi in 2015, it has operated as a free-to-visit attraction, dedicated to Dr Ambedkar, who is known as the architect of India's constitution.The home has attracted hundreds of guests, and three neighbours told the BBC that, during this time, visitors came and went without any disturbances. One resident, who lived across the road, said they did not even know it existed.
Maharashtra's government refused to comment on the case. But in a statement to the BBC, India's High Commission - its embassy in the UK - said the property"holds a special significance for a huge section of Indians". It said a planning application was submitted to Camden Council to convert the house into a memorial.
Before his his political career, Dr Ambedkar briefly lived in Primrose Hill, from 1921-22, while studying for a doctorate degree in economics at the London School of Economics.That's why, at the suggestion of a UK-based charity - the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations - the government of Maharashtra bought the property in 2015.
"We really want it to be a proper memorial so people can come and visit," said Ms Dass."Some people see it as a pilgrimage."Dr Ambedkar with his second wife Mai Ambedkar and activist Rao Bahadur CK Bole in Mumbai The resident claimed that Ambedkar House"went ahead with the renovations without permission", adding that"crowds of people come here now".
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