BJP Govt in Assam to remove Rajiv Gandhi from national park named after him

Guwahati: The BJP government in Assam has decided to change the name of a national park named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's name given to a nation. The Rajiv Gandhi National Park at Orang will be known as Orang National Park.

The name change of the park, which is known for the highest density of Royal Bengal Tigers in the country, is claimed by the government that it has decided the name change after many organisations representing the state's Adivasis and tea tribe communities have demanded it.

"Taking cognisance of the Adivasi and tea tribe community's demands, the cabinet has decided to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Park as Orang National Park," the government said in a statement.

The name change of projects and programmes named after Rajiv Gandhi is alleged by many as a wicked attempt to obliterate the Congers leader's history from annals of the country by the BJP.

Orang Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 79.28 sqm, which was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and in 1999 upgraded to a national park, was named after Rajiv Gandhi in 1992.

The national park located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Darrang, Udalguri and Sonitpur districts is known for wild animals like Indian Rhinos, Royal Bengal Tiger, Pygmy Hog, wild elephant and wild water buffalo.