Uttar Pradesh is now attempting to change the name of Aligarh, a historic city with a rich cultural heritage.
However, with the recent renaming of Faizabad and Allahabad, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government in India has been accused of promoting an anti-Muslim campaign.
Renaming of Aligarh by BJP Government
Moreover, the Aligarh Municipal Corporation, according to reports, has unanimously approved a proposal to rename the city.
Aligarh Mayor Prashant Singhal spearheaded the initiative, which received unanimous support from all councilors.
However, if this proposal is approved by the Uttar Pradesh government, it will be the state’s second city to change its name.
The BJP government renamed Allahabad to Prayagraj in 2019.
Hariagrh, New Name Proposed
Furthermore, the driving force behind the proposed name change to “Harigarh,” Mayor Prashant Singhal, expressed optimism about its acceptance.
This action addresses a long-standing demand for Aligarh to change its name.
However, there are several steps involved in renaming a city in India. First, the proposed name must be approved by the municipal corporation.
The proposal is then sent to the state government, which forwards it to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.
The state government is authorized to implement the name change after receiving approval from the Ministry and related institutions.
Yogi Adityanath, an Anti-Muslim CM of UP State
The proposal to rename Aligarh to Harigarh gained traction in 2021, when it was approved at a Zilla Panchayat meeting and forwarded to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Yogi Adityanath has been a vocal supporter of renaming cities and places in the state in accordance with the BJP’s policy.
He stated in 2019, “We (Hindus) do what we like; we renamed Mughal Sarai as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar, Allahabad as Prayagraj, and Faizabad as Ayodhya. Whenever the need arises, the government will take steps.”
Renaming of Different Muslim Cities Name in India by BJP
The renaming of Faizabad and Allahabad has prompted BJP leaders to call for the renaming of other cities across the country.
Agra could be renamed Agrawan or Agarwal, while Muzaffarnagar could be renamed Lakshminagar, according to one proposal.
It’s critical to recognize that anti-Muslim sentiment in India has increased as a result of the BJP government’s propagation of Hindutva and the escalating anti-Muslim campaign.
Attacks on Muslims Community in India
This has shown itself in a number of incidents, such as attacks on mosques and damage to Muslim homes, which have made it harder for the Muslim community to prosper in a setting where anti-Islamic sentiment is encouraged by the BJP and certain radical Hindu groups.
To read our blog on “India set on fire after BJP member defamatory remarks about Holy Prophet (PBUH),” click here.
