Kolkata won't have roads named after Mughals, Pathans, or oppressive British: CM Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has strongly backed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's decision to rename Suhrawardy Avenue as Gopal Mukherjee Road. He declared that Kolkata will no longer feature roads named after Mughals, Pathans, or "oppressive British rulers."

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No road to have names of British, Mughals, Pathans: CM Adhikari tells Assembly

Adhikari's remarks came during a discussion in the state assembly regarding the governor's address. He affirmed his full support for the June 20 decision to rename the Park Circus area road after Gopal Mukherjee, who is credited with protecting Hindus during the 1946 communal riots, also known as the Great Calcutta Killings. "Bengal cannot have a road named after Suhrawardy," Adhikari stated.

The renaming has sparked debate, with some academics and Trinamool Congress leaders arguing the road was named after Sir Hassan Suhrawardy, an academic, rather than Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the last premier of undivided Bengal, who faces accusations of links to the 1946 riots. Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee questioned the renaming, suggesting history was being distorted.

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I don’t know who took the decision but I fully support it. Bengal cannot have a road named after Suhrawardy.

Adhikari countered these arguments, referencing historical records and stating that Sir Hassan Suhrawardy received a knighthood for handing over freedom fighter Bina Das to the British after her failed assassination attempt on the Bengal governor in 1932. He emphasized that names associated with oppression would be removed from Kolkata's streets.

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Whenever I passed through the Park Circus seven-point crossing I saw the name Suhrawardy written on a road. That name cannot be there.

Furthermore, Adhikari announced the formation of a committee, led by Padma Shri awardee Swami Pradiptananda, to review future proposals for renaming roads and public places across West Bengal. This initiative aims to ensure that public spaces are honored with names reflecting true patriotism and nationalism.

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You claimed the road was named after another Suhrawardy. I have also talked to people who reviewed historical records. The vice-chancellor was given knighthood because he handed Bina Das to the British. There will be no Mughal, Pathan or oppressive British names in Kolkata.