Himanta Biswa Sarma defends Karimganj's name change to Sribhumi, slams opposition

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended government's decision to rename Karimganj district as Sribhumi, invoking the legacy of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Addressing criticism of the name change, Sarma remarked, “They can criticise me, but why are they criticising Rabindranath Tagore? In Assam, why should a district bear the name of an unknown person? This change should have been made long ago.”  

The statement comes amidst opposition from certain quarters questioning the rationale behind the renaming, with the CM emphasizing the cultural and historical significance of honoring Tagore. The controversy has reignited debates over the practice of renaming places and its impact on local identity.

Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal Chief Akhil Gogoi strongly criticized the Assam government's decision to rename Karimganj district as Sribhumi, labeling the move as "impulsive and dangerous." Reacting to the announcement, Gogoi stated, "Renaming places and rewriting history are reckless actions. The government should focus on reshaping the state’s map through developmental achievements, not by altering district names."

He further accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of prioritizing trivial matters over pressing issues, adding that such a policy direction warrants firm opposition.

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