One more setback to renaming issue of Bhopal

BHOPAL: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) General Council turned down the proposal of renaming of Bhopal citing constitutional provisions and merger agreement with the Central government. Madhya Pradesh government’s efforts to rename the state capital as Bhojpal yet again suffered a setback now.

However, Madhya Pradesh minister for urban administration and development, Babulal Gaur told PTI on Friday, “the decision to rename Bhopal as Bhojpal was taken by the state government and now it will send the proposal to Centre for approval along with the opinion of the local body.”

Babulal Gaur said, “The opinion of the local body matters, but since the state government took a decision on the issue, the proposal will be sent to the Centre for its approval as it is only empowered to change the name of any city or place.”

While turning down the proposal yesterday, Congress members highlighted that as per the merger agreement of Bhopal with the Indian Government and the constitutional provisions, the name of the city cannot be changed.

BJP countered the argument by highlighting that there is a mention the Gazette that Raja Bhoj constructed Bhojtal famously known as Upper Lake (Bada Talab).

Also the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had cancelled the provisions of compulsions outlined in this agreement, BJP said adding the Opposition is misleading the people by taking the name of merger agreement.