Assam CM Sarma invites suggestions for change of names of cities ‘contrary to our culture’

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state government will launch a portal inviting suggestions for change of names of cities, towns and villages that are “contrary to our civilisation, culture and derogatory to any caste or community”.

A day ago, Sarma attended an event for a second medical college in Guwahati where he said some places were named out of malice in some communities.

According to a report in the Economic Times, Sarma said Guwahati’s Kalapahar that was named after a Muslim general of the Bengal Sultanate who had attacked the Kamakhya temple, will definitely be changed.

“I have urged the local MLA to consult with the residents and suggest a name,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

Sarma, who recently created a controversy during an election campaign for stating the BJP never asks for proof from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about his father Rajiv Gandhi, further said the medical college coming up at Kalapahar would be named Pragjyotishpur Medical College.