People of Assam are protesting against the Centre's move to handover historical monuments to private entities for maintenance due to "communication gap" and "lack of understanding", BJP's Assam unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass today said.
The Centre is handing over the historically important places to private parties for maintaining the outside areas of the monument and improving their safety, he claimed.
"I think there is a communication gap. Everyone in India is praising this step. Only here, we are seeing protests against the move," Dass told a press conference here.
"It is basically for beautification of the outside of the monuments. There is a lack of understanding on the entire thing.
I hope that after few days, people will understand and will appreciate this in Assam as well," Dass opined.
Massive protests were witnessed across the state following reports that a local travel company has submitted its 'Expression of Interest' for adopting Kaziranga National Park, Kareng Ghar, the Ahom Kings' palace, the amphitheatre Rang Ghar and Shiva Doul (temple).
All Assam Students' Union, Asom Jaiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and Congress have condemned the move and asserted that they will not allow anyone to takeover the "state's pride".
The organisations held agitation programmes across the state and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday.
KMSS has announced to hold a protest at Kaziranga National Park tomorrow, followed by similar agitations in front of other monuments too.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)