Jharkhand Poll Effect? Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan ISBT Renamed After Birsa Munda

On Friday, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the chowk outside the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) bus stand in Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan would be renamed in honour of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

Khattar made the announcement during an event in Delhi, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda to mark 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas', the birth anniversary of the tribal independence leader from Jharkhand.

"I am announcing today that the large chowk outside the ISBT bus stand will be named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Seeing this statue and the name of the chowk, not only the citizens of Delhi but also those visiting the International Bus Stand will undoubtedly be inspired by his life," Khattar said.

During the unveiling of the statue to commemorate Bhagwan Birsa Munda's 150th birth anniversary, Amit Shah praised his contributions to societal reforms and his bravery in opposing 'religious conversion.'

Shah remarked that the nation would always be grateful to Birsa Munda for his fight for independence and his stand against religious conversions.

He added, "When the entire country and two-thirds of the world were under British rule, he showed the courage to oppose religious conversions."

"Birsa Munda spoke out against religious conversion while completing his secondary education. In 1875, during his secondary schooling, he raised his voice against religious conversion. At a time when the entire country, and two-thirds of the world, were under British rule, he showed immense courage in standing against religious conversion," Shah was quoted by the news agency PTI.

Interestingly, the decision to rename the bus stop coincides with the ongoing Assembly elections in Jharkhand. The first phase of voting was conducted on November 13, with the second phase scheduled for November 20. The results of the election will be announced on November 23.