Assam community fights Golakganj road renaming

Guwahati: The Koch Rajbanshi Citizens Forum slammed the Assam government for renaming a main road in Golakganj. They say the move disrespects local history and cultural identity. The road, which sits in a constituency held by Cabinet Minister Ashwini Roy, was renamed for Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Locals are furious.

Residents claim the ruling party uses them for votes but ignores their heritage once in office. They pointed out that the Prodhani Zamindar family donated the land for the bazaar and roads. The forum argues that public spots should honor the people who built the region.

Jyotirmoy Prodhani, a descendant of the donor family, rejected the name change. He argued that Mukherjee pushed for merging Cooch Behar with West Bengal, a stance that clashed with local leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi. Prodhani said, "Mukherjee had advocated for the merger of Cooch Behar with West Bengal rather than preserving its separate status."

Protesters also alleged that historical records show Mukherjee held negative views toward parts of their community. The forum wants the government to reverse the decision immediately. They insist that local infrastructure must reflect local contributions. The state government remains silent on the protests for now.