Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (September 13), took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and shared that the Home Ministry has decided to rename Port Blair as Shri Vijayapuram.
"Veer" Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had spent 11 years in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair city during India's freedom struggle. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have time and again spoken about their reverence for Veer Savarkar.
Explaining the thought process behind renaming Port Blair, Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X, "Inspired by the resolve of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji to rid the country of all symbols of slavery, today the Home Ministry has decided to rename Port Blair as 'Shri Vijayapuram'. The name 'Sri Vijayapuram' reflects our struggle for freedom and the contribution of Andaman and Nicobar in it. This island has a unique place in our country's independence and history."
"This island, which played the role of a naval base in the Chola Empire, is today ready to accelerate the country's security and development. This island is the place where the tricolour was first hoisted by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters fought for the independence of Maa Bharati in the Cellular Jail," Amit Shah's post read.
PM Modi also posted about the name change and said in his X post, "The name Sri Vijaya Puram honours the rich history and heroic people of Andaman and Nicobar islands. It also reflects our commitment to break free from the colonial mindset and celebrate our heritage."
"We thank PM @narendramodi Ji for his significant steps in eliminating colonial imprints and we take pride in the renaming of Port Blair as "Sri Vijaya Puram," posted BJP Andaman Nicobar unit.
