After BJP Lok Sabha member Sangam Lal Gupta urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to change the name of the State capital from Lucknow to Lakhanpur or Laxmanpur, the politics over names of Uttar Pradesh districts has gained traction and fresh demands have emerged.
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar urged the State government to rename Ghazipur district to Vishwamitra Nagar in honour of Maharishi Vishwamitra and Bahraich district as Maharaja Suldev Rajbhar Nagar.
In his letter to Mr. Adityanath, Mr. Rajbhar wrote, “Honourable Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, please see the attached application of Mr. Shakti Singh, National Secretary, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, where he mentioned the unique role of Vishwamitra in district-Ghazipur, and requested to change the name of Ghazipur to Vishwamitra Nagar. Therefore, you are requested to kindly order to take necessary action for changing the name of District-Ghazipur to Vishwamitra Nagar keeping in view the facts mentioned in the attached application.” The SBSP chief wrote a similar letter demanding that Bahraich district be renamed as Maharaja Suldev Rajbhar Nagar.
On the demand by Mr. Gupta to rename Lucknow, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday told mediapersons that it was well known that Lucknow was earlier known as ‘Laxman Nagri’ and that the State government would move forward “according to the situation and let you know”.
In his letter, Mr. Gupta said, “Lord Ram had gifted Lucknow to Lakshman ji and had since been named after him as ‘Lakhanpur’ or ‘Lakshmanpur’ but in 18th century, the then Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula renamed it as Lucknow and that’s how it is known since. Now that the country has entered Amrit Kaal, this symbol of slavery needs to be done away with.”
Last year, while welcoming the Prime Minister in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also made a reference of Lakshman with reference to Lucknow. “Warm welcome on your arrival in Lucknow, the land of lord Lakshman,” he tweeted while welcoming the PM.
Published - February 09, 2023 03:07 am IST
