Fomer Minister Gudha Falls Sick During Protest
Former minister Rajendra Singh Gudha rests on road after falling sick
Jhunjhunu: Villagers in Jhunjhunu district staged a major protest Monday against a govt move to rename Islampur as Shrirampur, with a large crowd undertaking a nearly 15-km foot march to the district collectorate to demand that the existing name be retained.The march began in Islampur and proceeded to the Jhunjhunu Collectorate under the leadership of former minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) district president Rajendra Fauji and Islampur sarpanch and Sangharsh Samiti patron Aamin Maniyar. Participants included villagers, public representatives, and members of various organisations.On reaching the collectorate, protesters held a demonstration and raised slogans against the administration, arguing that the village has been known as Islampur for generations and that there is no justification for changing its name without any demand from residents.Fauji said villagers had earlier submitted a memorandum, after which the district collector asked them to provide proof supporting the name Islampur. The RLP man said the turnout itself reflected public sentiment and warned that a name change could create complications in land records, identity documents, banking, revenue papers and other govt documentation. He criticised the BJP govt, alleging it was focusing on ‘renaming politics’ instead of addressing inflation, unemployment and jobs.Later, Maniyar, Fauji and other representatives met district collector Arun Garg and submitted old revenue and govt documents, asserting that official records have consistently listed the village as Islampur. The collector assured the delegation that a report would be sent to the govt only after a factual investigation.Fauji said Jhunjhunu represents Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and Ganga-Jamuni culture and urged that religion-based politics should not be promoted in the region, noting that members of the Muslim community from the district have made sacrifices for the country.During the protest, ex-minister Gudha fell ill while staging a sit-in outside the collectorate, with reports attributing the incident to low blood pressure after the long march and heat. A 108 ambulance and doctors reached the spot, but Gudha declined hospitalisation and recovered after resting. Gudha pledged to continue supporting the villagers’ campaign.
