GDD Minister responds to criticism over name of electric crematorium

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After the first electric crematorium in the northeast was inaugurated at Ulubari, Guwahati on Monday, the State government received a lot of criticism in various platforms for naming the crematorium as Dr. Banikanta Kakati Electric Crematorium.

People claimed that it is an insult for the entire Assamese community that a crematorium has been named after a person who has a huge contribution towards the development of Assamese language and literature.

After receiving criticism over the matter, the GDD (Guwahati Development Department) Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharjya, who inaugurated the crematorium, clarified that it is not a one-sided decision of the State government to name the crematorium as Dr. Banikanta Kakati Electric Crematorium. Bhattacharjya asserted that the reactions are baseless as the government has not decided anything yet.

He underlined, "As far the naming of the crematorium matters, the whole responsibility is in the hands of the GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation). GMC decides naming of any public property like roads and other monument." Bhattacharjya added, "Dr. Banikanta Kakati's son and former IGP Debakanta Kakati had raised a demand in the year 1999 to name the crematorium after his father. On the day of inauguration of the crematorium, the family of Dr. Banikanta Kakati reiterated the demand in public."

Bhattacharjya said that it is in response to the demand that that the whole responsibility in terms of managing the affairs of the crematorium has been handed over to the GMC.

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