Mahatma Gandhi’s statue which was of 5.5 foot placed at Gandhi Chowk in Tinsukia district, was removed by an excavator. The news has led to massive controversy, protest in the state.
Political members have been accusing Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma for the removal. Pritam Neog, AASU leader said, “When we met the municipal board and the town committee, they told us they have a plan to build clock tower but our question is why the civil society here was not taken into confidence before taking the decision to uproot the Gandhi statue?”
Further, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, accused BJP government by saying, “Not surprising that the BJP Government in Assam decided to replace Bapu’s statue with a clock tower in Dibrugarh.”
However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified the accusations by saying, “I am not aware of this decision taken by the district administration. Let me verify the facts. Assam owes so much to Mahatma Gandhi. He stood firmly with Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi when the Congress party led by Nehru wanted to include Assam in Pakistan under the Grouping Plan.”
