A road in Naharlagun now bears the name of a Bengali politician who never set foot in Arunachal Pradesh — and the Youth Congress has had enough.
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has come out swinging against the Arunachal Pradesh government’s decision to name a newly constructed road in Naharlagun after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The road, which connects Damsite to Model Village, was inaugurated with the BJP leader’s name attached to it — a move that has sparked sharp political backlash and a bigger conversation about identity, heritage, and who gets to decide how public spaces are remembered.
“Taxpayer Money, Not BJP’s Private Fund”
IYC national general secretary Tarh Johny didn’t hold back. In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 7, he made it plain — this road was built with taxpayers’ money, not party funds, and the people of Arunachal deserve to see their own heroes honoured on it. Johny’s argument cuts straight to the point: if public infrastructure is funded by the public, then who it commemorates should also reflect the public’s own history and collective identity, not serve as a political billboard for the ruling party.
The Names That Were Skipped
Johny rattled off a list of leaders who, in his view, deserved this recognition far more. He named Moje Riba, Matmur Jamoh, Dr Bengia Tolum, Talom Rukbo, Gegong Apang, Dorjee Khandu, and Kalikho Pul — each of them figures who shaped Arunachal Pradesh from within, who lived its struggles and built its story. It’s a fair question to ask: with this much homegrown legacy to draw from, why reach outside the state entirely? The BJP government has offered no clear public explanation, and that silence speaks volumes.
Symbolism Over Substance?
The IYC didn’t stop at the naming controversy. Johny called it out for exactly what it looks like — symbolic politics. He pointed to far more urgent problems on the ground: rising unemployment, crumbling rural roads, understaffed hospitals, and schools that desperately need attention. The argument is simple — when real problems are piling up, spending political energy on naming ceremonies feels tone-deaf at best and deliberately distracting at worst.
A Call for Transparency
Johny’s demand is reasonable, and honestly, it should’ve been standard practice from the start. He urged the state government to build a transparent, consultative process for naming public infrastructure — one that brings historians, indigenous organisations, civil society groups, local communities and public representatives to the table. No more decisions handed down from above without public input.
This isn’t just about one road in Naharlagun. It’s about who Arunachal Pradesh sees itself as, and who gets to make that call. A state this rich in culture, history, and homegrown leadership deserves better than having its streets named after political icons imported from thousands of kilometres away.
— Naitik Abotani TV
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