The statue of Mahatma Gandhi was removed two days ago for a clock tower to be put up in Doomdoma town of Assam. On July 12, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that he had no idea about it and would confirm the information.
It comes after the decision by Tinsukia administration to remove the statue received widespread criticism.
Mr. Sarma responded to a post by Mahatma’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi on X: “I don’t know anything about this decision from district administration. Let me verify.” The Chief Minister also said that Assam owes much to Mahatma Gandhi.
“When Nehru led Congress wanted to include Assam in Pakistan under Grouping Plan, he stood firm with Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi,” Mr. Sarma noted on the microblogging site.
For a clock tower; it is going to be constructed at its location and so locals say the municipal authorities who removed it said Wednesday was demolished from the middle of town where a statue of Mahatma Gandhi used to stand,” one local resident revealed, adding that there has been a protest by local people against this action taken by the government.
On Thursday, Rupesh Gowala, MLA of Doomdoma assured them that another taller statue would replace at same ground for Father of the Nation.
The BJP legislator added that since old one was somewhat dilapidated, new one will take six months and along with beautification of area.
Tushar Gandhi shared a news clipping showing what local administration did and stated thus: “Not surprising that Bapu’s statute was replaced with clock tower in Dibrugarh by BJP govt of Assam. Their slavish colonial hangover persists.”
