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Malegaon:
A controversy is brewing over the naming of the PV Narasimha Rao
Elevated Expressway which is to be inaugurated on October 2.
With Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) officials
working overtime to complete work on the flyover, some Muslim
organisations and political parties are threatening to disrupt the
inauguration programme if the state goes ahead with its decision to
name the expressway after PV Narasimha Rao, says a report published
in Expressonline.
According to the report, Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) wants
the State Government to rename it after any personality such as
Mahatma Gandhi, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy or Nizam VII Nawab Mir Osman
Ali Khan Bahadur. They are strictly opposed to Expressway named
after PV Narasimha Rao since he was prime minister when the Babri
Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992.
“As we boycotted foundation laying stone earlier, this time too, the
MIM will boycott the inauguration programme", the report quoted MIM
MP Asadduddin Owaisi as saying.
“Naming such a prestigious project after a controversial leader is
unfortunate,” Asaduddin added.
MIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said that since a major part of
the flyover would pass through Muslim-dominated areas, it would be
better for the State government to drop the PV prefix and name it
after Rajasekhara Reddy instead.
“The MIM will not keep quiet and will fight till PV name’s is
dropped,” Owaisi said.
“The issue of the Babri Masjid demolition is still fresh in the
hearts of Muslims. Therefore, naming the flyover after PV would only
add insult to injury,” Syed Nawaz Ahmed Quadri alias Nawaz Quadri,
General Secretary of All India Tahafuzz Masjid Board told Expresso.
The Expressway stretches from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital,
Mehdipatnam to Aramghar Junction (11.5 km).
“Muslims want the Expressway to be named after a ‘secular’
personality,” he said.
On the inauguration day, black flags will be put up on the stretch
of the flyover and the convoy of Chief Minister K Rosaiah will be
blocked, he said.
HMDA officials told Expresso that they have nothing to say on the
issue. The decision to name the Expressway was taken by the late
chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Some of them wondered why certain
parties were raking up the issue now and had not raised any
objection during the last three years.
Meanwhile, PV Narasimha Rao’s grandson
NV Subhash says that controversy is unfortunate and it is the State
cabinet which has to take a decision on the matter.
Previously, political parties in the
Old City and Muslim organisations had opposed the installation of
PV’s statue at Rethibowli junction, near Rythu Bazar, Mehdipatnam or
at Masab Tank. Finally, the State Government put up the statue at
Road No 10, near Indo-American Hospital, Banjara Hills.
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