Thaindian News

Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) The Congress is creating a “needless issue” over renaming of a guest house which briefly served as the residence of late prime minister Indira Gandhi and later Marxist stalwart Jyoti Basu, the Trinamool Congress said Friday.

The ruling alliance partner Congress is angry over the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government’s decision to rename Indira Bhawan, the guest house located in Salt Lake area, as Nazrul Bhawan in honour of the Bengali revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

A Trinamool Congress leader Friday said the Congress was creating a ‘needless issue’ over the renaming of the guest house.

“No effort has been made so far to give any honour to Nazrul Islam. When we have now taken the initiative, the Congress is trying to create a needless issue by protesting the move. It is highly unwarranted and we criticise it,” state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim said at the state secretariat Writers’ Buildings.

He also accused the political parties of being opportunist and thinking of minorities only during the elections.

“The parties remember minorities and iconic figures from the community only during the elections. Once the polls are over, they just forget them. But our government is unlike others and we want to honour Nazrul Islam for his contributions. We condemn any move by the parties to oppose this move,” Hakim added.

Congress activists Thursday protested the renaming move outside the state secretariat and demanding withdrawal of the decision. The Left Front also has slammed the decision.