Indore: Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani said the name of Khajrana, where famous Lord Ganesha’s temple is located, should be changed to Ganesh Nagar.
“The Lord Ganesha temple of Indore is famous in the country and it represents the city. So, it will be appropriate to name Khajrana after Lord Ganesha. As per wish of people, Khajrana area should be named as Ganesh Nagar,” he told reporters on Sunday. Replying a query, he said demand of changing the names of some places is being made as original names of those places were changed.
“Khajrana is among them. It was originally known as Ganesh Nagar as identity of Khajrana is attributed to Lord Ganesh temple. That’s why people are demanding to change the locality’s name to Ganesh Nagar,” Lalwani said.
Of late, the demand to change names of places in Madhya Pradesh has been growing. Earlier, the demand to change name of Idgah Hills in Bhopal and Hoshangabad was raised. Few years back, Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) had passed a resolution in its council meeting and sent the proposal to the state government to change name of Indore as “Indoor”.
How Khajrana got its name?
According to historians, erstwhile Holkar rulers’ descendants kept their treasure hidden in a well located in this area. As a result, the name khajana (treasure) changed to Khajrana. Some historians believe that Khajrana dargah located here lent the name of area to Khajrana.
Cong slams Lalwani over demand
Demand of changing name of Khajrana as Ganesh Nagar by Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani has stirred a new controversy and given a chance to Congress to target him over the same.
Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Nilabh Shukla said that Lalwani stirred the controversy only to remain in news.
“His demand is illogical and he raised the demand only to remain in news. Khajrana was named over the well where Holkar’s kept their treasure. Demand of changing its name is a move to hurt sentiments of Hindus,’ Shukla said.
Meanwhile, state secretary Rakesh Yadav demanded that Lalwani should change his name before doing politics of name change of famous places.
“Lalwani has raised the demand only to divert people’s concentration from real issues like unemployment, inflation, hike in fuel prices, and others. He should talk on real issues instead of raising such unnecessary issues,” Yadav said.
State spokesperson of Congress Narendra Saluja said that Lalwani was slammed over the demand of separate state for Sindhis and now he raised such demand to hide the previous mistake.
