Is Modi Government planning to rename Delhi?

New Delhi, Dec 18: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu during a discussion in the Parliament on the National Capital of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill suggested that Delhi should have been named either Indraprashtha or Hastinapur.

"Sometimes I feel, instead of Delhi, it should have been either Indraprastha or Hastinapur. Some such historical name should have been more appropriate for this city," Naidu was quoted as saying in an ANI report.

But it seems that this suggestion has not really gone down too well with the people.

After the suggestion to change the capital's name from Delhi to Indraprastha or Hastinapur, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might also change the Indian Constitution.

"The BJP leaders are today talking about changing Delhi's name, tomorrow they will change the Indian Constitution also," said Mayawati.

"Earlier also when they were in power then they had tried to review the Indian Constitution. At that time, they wanted to make such changes that promote communal powers," she added.

Writer and historian William Dalrymple when asked about Naidu's suggestion, was quoted as saying in the TOI, "When Shah Jahan couldn't do it, how can these present politicians change the name of Delhi?"

Another historian, Ramachandra Guha, told TOI, "The urban development minister should devote his time to improving conditions in cities rather then changing their names. Changing the name to Dilli will be more appropriate, as has been done with Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai."

Earlier also in 2009, then Union sports minister MS Gill had suggested that name of the national capital should be changed from Delhi to Dilli.

OneIndia News