The politics of changing the names of roads in Delhi has heated up once again. BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Dinesh Sharma and Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar have written “Swami Vivekanand Marg” on the nameplates of their houses in Tughlaq Lane, which has created a political controversy. However, the name of the road has not been changed officially yet.
MP Dinesh Sharma’s Social Media Post
MP Dinesh Sharma shared a post on his official social media account stating that he performed a traditional griha pravesh ceremony at his new government residence “6-Swami Vivekanand Marg (Tughlaq Lane)” in New Delhi.
He also shared pictures of the event, in which the nameplate outside his house clearly reads “Swami Vivekanand Marg”. After this, the matter has become a topic of discussion and its echo is also being heard in political circles.
Tughlaq Lane: No Official Order on Name Change Yet
It is important to note that the nameplates of the residences of both leaders now display the name “Swami Vivekanand Marg”, but “Tughlaq Lane” is still mentioned in brackets.
So far, there has been no official order regarding renaming Tughlaq Lane. However, BJP MPs have already changed the address at their residences, and refer to the road as “Vivekanand Marg”.
How Are Roads Renamed?
The process of renaming a road or place in Delhi begins with a proposal submitted to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The proposal can be initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs, NGOs or local residents.
Once the proposal is received, it is sent to the general department of the NDMC, which then passes it on to a 13-member committee responsible for reviewing name change requests. This committee specifically handles matters related to changing or renaming roads and places.
Once the proposal is approved, the NDMC officially informs the Post Master General about the change.
Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has specific guidelines that must be followed for renaming roads or places. These include:
- Ensuring that the new name reflects the sentiments of local residents.
- Avoiding any confusion that may arise due to the name change.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak’s Statement on this Matter
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak commented on the issue, saying, “People are well aware that Muhammed bin Tughlaq was a crazy ruler. Renaming a road from such a crazy person to Swami Vivekananda is a big decision. Swami Vivekananda spread the glory of Bharat Mata all over the world.”
Political Storm Over Renaming of Tughlaq Lane
Tughlaq Lane: This issue has sparked a political controversy and discussions have intensified. Since the name change has not yet been officially approved, many questions are being raised.
Some people believe that this is just a personal initiative, while some consider it a political move. However, this is not the first time that there has been a controversy over changing the name of a road or place in Delhi.
Such demands have been raised earlier as well. Now the important question is whether the NDMC will officially approve this proposal or will it remain a personal initiative of the leaders?
Who was Muhammad bin Tughlaq?
Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s name is infamous in history for his cruelty and eccentricity. Therefore, even today, the phrase “Tughlaqi Farmaan” remains a common saying. He ordered a massive massacre in Kannauj on a whim, which is recorded as a horrific chapter in the pages of history. Alongside cruel rulers like Muhammad Ghori and Alauddin Khilji, Muhammad bin Tughlaq also reached new heights of tyranny and barbarism.
In his madness, he completely destroyed Kannauj and then took the unfortunate decision to move his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devgiri). Tughlaq not only forced the relocation of officials and the capital but also tried to forcibly move the entire populace at sword-point, which resulted in the loss of countless innocent lives.
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