GUWAHATI: In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gaurav Gogoi, Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha, expressed his concerns regarding the exclusion of Sri Sri Batadraba Than from the proposed delimitation of the Assembly constituency.
Gogoi raised his objections to the Election Commission's decision to exclude Batadraba Than, the birthplace of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, and merge it with the Nagaon LAC. Additionally, he highlighted that the Assam government had recently taken a cabinet decision to completely merge the existing Batadraba LAC into Dhing LAC.
Gogoi contends that Batadraba Than holds immense historical, socio-cultural, and religious significance as per the Vaishnavite faith and is associated with Lord Krishna's 7th incarnation, Varaha, and the birthplace of Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva, the originator of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in greater Assam. He further said that the place has played a crucial role in unifying the people of Assam and neighbouring states since its rediscovery in 1656 AD.
Gogoi emphasised that Batadraba Than encompasses the satras (Vaishnavite monasteries) that uphold Sankardeva's philosophy, the inherent revenue villages surrounding the Than under Batadrava Development Block, and the entire Hatichung Mouza. However, the proposed delimitation plan carves out the Batadraba LAC and seeks to rename it as Dhing LAC. This move is seen as neglecting the historical and religious significance of Batadraba, thus distorting its legacy and past glory.
In light of these concerns, Gogoi urged Modi to intervene in the matter and ensure the restoration of Batadraba's original constituency status in the new delimitation proposal for the Assembly constituency. He emphasised the importance of preserving the legacy of the Neo-Vaishnavism movement initiated by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and called for immediate action to address the issue.
Gogoi's appeal reflects the significance of protecting cultural and religious heritage while undertaking administrative reforms. The plea to the Prime Minister underscores the need for a careful and inclusive approach to delimitation to ensure the preservation of historical and religious landmarks in the country.