Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently announced the renaming of 11 places across the state's Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
The move, intended to honor Hindu deities, mythological figures, and prominent BJP and RSS leaders, has sparked fierce opposition from various political parties. Critics have accused the government of focusing on symbolic name changes rather than addressing the state's more pressing challenges.
In his announcement, the Chief Minister defended the decision, stating that the renaming of these places was in line with public sentiment and aimed at preserving Indian culture and heritage. He emphasised that the new names would reflect the contributions of great figures in the preservation of Indian culture.
The list of renamed places includes several significant changes: Aurangzebpur in Haridwar will be renamed Shivaji Nagar, Gajiwali will become Arya Nagar, Chandpur will be changed to Jyotiba Phule Nagar, and Mohammadpur Jat will be renamed Mohanpur Jat. Other places, such as Khanpur and Khanpur Kursali, will now be known as Shri Krishnapur and Ambedkar Nagar, respectively. Idrishpur will be changed to Nandpur, and Akbarpur Fajalpur will become Vijaynagar.
In Dehradun, Miyanwala will be renamed Ramjiwala, Pirwala will become Kesari Nagar, Chandpur Khurd will be known as Prithviraj Nagar, and Abdullapur will be changed to Dakshnagar.
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In Nainital district, Nawabi Road will be renamed Atal Marg, and Panchakki-ITI Marg will become Guru Golwalkar Marg. Additionally, Sultanpur Patti in Udham Singh Nagar district will be renamed Kaushalyapuri.
The announcement has sparked significant political debate, with opposition leaders voicing their concerns. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav ridiculed the renaming effort, suggesting that Uttarakhand could also be renamed as Uttar Pradesh-2, referencing the state's past as part of Uttar Pradesh before it became a separate entity in 2000.
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His comment reflects the ongoing political rivalry between regional and national parties. Congress MP Imran Masood also criticised the renaming initiative, arguing that it was a diversion from the real issues facing the state.
He pointed out the challenges of corruption and youth migration, stressing that the government should focus on addressing these problems rather than changing place names. Masood accused the BJP-led government of prioritising symbolic gestures over meaningful governance, highlighting the concerns of the people struggling with the state's socio-economic issues.
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