Former Rajasthan minister Rajendra Singh Gudha fell ill during a large-scale protest in Jhunjhunu district on Monday against the state government's decision to rename Islampur village as Shrirampur. The demonstration saw hundreds of villagers undertake a nearly 15-kilometer foot march from Islampur to the district collectorate to demand that the original name be retained.
Protest Leadership and Participation
The march was led by former minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) district president Rajendra Fauji, and Islampur sarpanch and Sangharsh Samiti patron Aamin Maniyar. Participants included local villagers, public representatives, and members of various organizations. Upon reaching the collectorate, protesters held a demonstration and raised slogans against the administration.
Demands and Arguments
The protesters argued 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. Rajendra Fauji stated that villagers had earlier submitted a memorandum, after which the district collector asked them to provide proof supporting the name Islampur. He emphasized that the large turnout reflected public sentiment and warned that a name change could create complications in land records, identity documents, banking, revenue papers, and other government documentation.
Fauji criticized the BJP government, alleging it was focusing on 'renaming politics' instead of addressing inflation, unemployment, and jobs. He highlighted that Jhunjhunu represents Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and Ganga-Jamuni culture, urging 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.
Meeting with District Collector
Later, Maniyar, Fauji, and other representatives met district collector Arun Garg and submitted old revenue and government 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 government only after a factual investigation.
Gudha's Health Incident
During the protest, former minister Gudha fell ill while staging a sit-in outside the collectorate. Reports attributed the incident to low blood pressure after the long march and heat. A 108 ambulance and doctors reached the spot, but Gudha declined hospitalization and recovered after resting. He pledged to continue supporting the villagers' campaign.
