Former Karnataka CM Flays Assam Govt Over Rajiv Gandhi National Park Renaming Move, Calls It Foolish Decision

GUWAHATI: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah has slammed the Assam government over its decision to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Park as Orang National Park saying the decision taken by the state government is a "foolish" decision.

The Assam cabinet had on Wednesday passed a resolution for renaming of Rajiv Gandhi National Park into Orang National Park. About the reason of changing the name of the park, the government said a large number of organisations had approached and appealed to it for renaming of the national park. It added that it finalised the move taking cognizance of the long-pending demand of the Adivasis and tea garden communities. This is the second instance in the country of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's name being dropped from a major entity. Earlier this year, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was changed to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Talking to media persons on Thursday, Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah took a dig at the Assam government for the decision and termed it a "foolish" decision. News agency ANI tweeted about the statement by the Karnataka chief minister on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Rajiv Gandhi National Park, located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur and Darrang districts, is home to one of the maximum number of Royal Bengal tigers in the country. The park, which is spread over an area of about 79.28 square kilometres, also has wild animals like Indian Rhinos, Pygmy hog, wild water buffaloes and wild elephants. The park received the status of a wildlife sanctuary in 1985 and of a national park in 1999. Apart from that, the state has many wildlife sanctuaries too. Some of the major ones are Pobitora, Chakrashila, Nambor, Amsang and Sonai-Rupai.

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