Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has attacked the Maharashtra government for omitting the mention of anniversaries of Chhatrapati Shivaji, reformist Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and BR Ambedkar from the official calendar for 2019.

Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress party said, “This (BJP-Shiv Sena) government exploits the names of all these towering personalities only for political purposes but has forgotten them in the annual calendar.”

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde demanded an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, stating, “glaring omissions are an insult to the memories of the two great personalities Phule and Ambedkar.”

“The CM must give an explanation on how the names and pictures of these stalwarts were dropped from the calendar, who is responsible for it and what action will be initiated against them,” added Munde.

Ambedkar’s death anniversary – December 6 – is observed as ‘Mahaparinivan Day’ annually when lakhs of Dalits and Buddhist followers converge at Dadar, Mumbai, to pay homage to his memory. There has been no official reaction from the government.