Several Ahom organisations on Thursday observed blockade on the NH 37 near Siukapha Bhavan at Dibrugarh demanding that the Bogibeel Bridge be named after Chaolung Siu-ka-pha.
The protesters holding placards and banners blocked the NH 37 for two hours in support of their demand.
The members of Tai-Ahom Yuba Parishad, All Assam Ahom Sabha and All Assam Tai Students’ Union participated in the blockade programme.
Also read: Row over naming Bogibeel bridge: Tai Ahom groups call road blockade
“We demand that the Bogibeel Bridge be named after the founder of Ahom dynasty, Chaolung Siu-ka-pha. We have given 48 hours to the Government to clear their stand in naming the bridge,” said Dipankar Dowarah, district secretary of the Tai-Ahom Yuba Parishad.
Describing Siu-ka-pha as the epitome of India’s historical links with the Southeast Asia, Dowarah added: “It would be significant to leverage this linkage towards realization of the objectives of India’s Act East Policy.”
He also said they have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner, Laya Madduri.
It may be mentioned that various indigenous organisations of Assam have been demanding that the bridge be named after their preferred personalities. The debate over the naming of Bogibeel Bridge continues before its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2018.
The All Assam Chutia Students’ Union (AACSU) recently demanded that the bridge be named after Chutia dynasty Queen Sati Sadhani. The Union threatened that 100 youths of the community would jump into the Brahmaputra from the Bogibeel Bridge on the day of its inauguration if the Government does not name it after Sati Sadhani.
The Assam Government recently suggested to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) that the name of Bogibeel Bridge be changed to ‘Birangana Sati Sadhani Setu’ from ‘Birangana Sadhani Bridge’.
Also read: Name Bogibeel Bridge as Birangana Sati Sadhani Setu: Assam Govt
In a letter to the General Manager of NFR, the Deputy Secretary to the Assam Transport Department made the suggestion, officials said.
A section of BJP leaders, including Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, are in favour of naming the bridge as ‘Atal Setu’.
Recently, the Commander-in-Chief of the the banned ULFA(I), Paresh Barua, said the bridge should be named after Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Jyoti Prasad Agarwala – two eminent personalities from Assam – as ‘Bishnu-Jyoti Bridge’.