Lakhs of followers from all over the state converged at his memorial “Chaityabhoomi” at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai to pay their respects to the Dalit icon.
Mumbai police has made elaborate security arrangements to ensure that the day passes off peacefully without any untoward incident.
City police chief Sanjeev Dayal personally supervised the security arrangements by visiting Shivaji Park and nearby areas.
President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmoham Singh, Speaker of Lok Sabha Mira Kumar, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj offered floral tributes to B R Ambedkar.
Maharshtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan flew in from Nagpur to pay homage to Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also visited the memorial to pay homage.
At the State Secretariate, floral tributes were offered to the late leader while at Vidhan Bhavan, Legislative Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil paid tributes at the statue of Ambedkar.