Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s announcement of renaming 11 places across Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar has ignited a heated political debate.
The move, aimed at honoring Hindu deities, mythological figures, and prominent BJP and RSS leaders, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
Aurangzebpur in Haridwar is now Shivaji Nagar, while other renamed places include Arya Nagar, Shri Krishnapur, and Ambedkar Nagar. Similarly, Dehradun and Nainital districts saw names such as Ramjiwala and Atal Marg being introduced. Udham Singh Nagar followed suit with changes like Kaushalyapuri.
While the Chief Minister insists the renaming aligns with Indian culture and public sentiment, opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Imran Masood have denounced the decision. Yadav jested about renaming the state as “Uttar Pradesh-2,” referencing Uttarakhand’s origins as part of Uttar Pradesh until 2000. Masood accused the government of indulging in symbolic politics while neglecting urgent issues like corruption and youth migration.
The renaming initiative has sparked fierce debate, highlighting the ongoing clash between cultural symbolism and real-world governance challenges.
