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Bhojpal,
not Bhopal? Chouhan sparks debate
Tuesday March 01, 2011 05:30:24 PM,
Shahnawaz Akhtar,
IANS
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Bhopal:
Bhopal would be renamed Bhojpal, if Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan had his way. He expressed the wish at a
function to mark 1,000 years of erstwhile king Raja Bhoj's
coronation - an idea that hasn't found favour with some.
"If the name of Bangalore could be changed to Bengaluru, Bombay to
Mumbai and Calcutta to Kolkata, why can we not change Bhopal to
Bhojpal?" he asked at Lal Parade Ground during the grand function
Monday.
"We are recommending it to the centre which would finally decide
on it."
The Chouhan government has renamed Bada Talab, also known as Upper
Lake, Bhojtal and VIP Road as Raja Bhoj Road.
In the lavish ceremony thrown to mark 1,000 years of Raja Bhoj's
coronation, besides establishing the statue at Upper Lake, a laser
show was held to show the life and works of Raja Bhoj to the
people.
Bollywood veteran Kabir Bedi anchored the programme while singer
Sukhvinder Singh and percussionist Sivamani performed on the
occasion. It was also celebrated with massive fireworks on the
ground.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari and former president M. Venkaiah Naidu
also participated in the functions held Monday morning and late
evening.
The issue of renaming the state capital has been around since the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in Madhya Pradesh.
In 2006, then chief minister Uma Bharti tried to rename Bhopal.
Now Chouhan has taken it up.
It is believed that Bhopal derives its name from Raja Bhoj.
The Congress, however, is opposed to the idea and has written to
the central government against it.
Party legislator Arif Masaud said: "For thousands of years, Bhopal
has been a symbol of Ganga-Jamuna culture. This is an attempt to
disturb communal harmony."
Rajendra Kothari, director of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, told IANS: "It is a way to divert the attention of
people from issues of progress. The next seven years, the
government will spend time saying our name is not so and so. By
changing the name, what will change economically for people? What
is the net advantage?"
Even locals say it is a ‘senseless' proposal.
"Please Mr. Chouhan, our city has a very beautiful name and so
many people identify themselves as Bhopalis. Please do not take
that away from us," requests Vatsal, a local resident.
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