Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended the government's controversial decision to rename Karimganj district as Sribhumi, citing the legacy of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Sarma, addressing the criticism surrounding the name change, 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 renaming has sparked a fresh wave of political debate, with opposition figures questioning the rationale behind it.
Sarma, however, emphasised the cultural and historical importance of honouring Tagore, drawing attention to the poet’s significant contribution to Assamese and Indian culture.
The announcement has reignited discussions on the broader practice of renaming places, with critics raising concerns about its impact on local identity. Some also question whether renaming districts truly serves the public interest.
Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal Chief Akhil Gogoi has strongly criticised the decision, calling it "impulsive and dangerous."
Reacting to the announcement, Gogoi remarked, "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."
Gogoi further accused Chief Minister Sarma of diverting attention from more pressing state matters, stating, "Such a policy direction warrants firm opposition."
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