Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav critisised the Uttarakhand government's decision to rename 15 places in the state, sarcastically suggesting that Uttarakhand should be renamed as "Uttar Pradesh-2."
"Uttarakhand should also be named 'Uttar Pradesh-2' considering the ongoing name-changing spree in the region," he told ANI.
Yadav's remarks came in response to Uttarakhand -Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's April 1 announcement, which aimed to rename various towns and cities to "respect the sentiments and cultural heritage" of the region.
Have a look at his statement here:
CM Dhami's Announcement
Dhami, in his speech, explained that the renaming initiative was designed to honour the contribution of historical figures and help citizens reconnect with their cultural roots. "The move is aimed at helping people take inspiration from the great men who contributed to Indian culture and its preservation," he said.
He further added that the renaming would reinforce the state's cultural identity and historical recognition.
What Are the 15 Places to Be Renamed?
The list of places that are likely to be renamed by the state government include Aurangzebpur (now Shivaji Nagar); Idrishpur (now Nandpur); and Khanpur (now Krishnapur), among others.
Additionally, several roads and localities, including the ITI Road, renamed as Guru Gowalkar Marg, were part of the initiative. The changes span across different blocks and municipal areas of the state, in order to honour significant historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, Jyotiba Phule, and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, among others.
