2 BJP MPs add ‘Vivekanand Marg’ to nameplates on Tughlaq Lane

Two BJP MPs - Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar and Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma - allegedly modified the nameplates outside their official residences on Tughlaq Lane in Delhi, incorporating “Swami Vivekananda Marg” along with the existing name.

The move comes amid recent proposals by some BJP leaders to rename several areas christened after Mughal leaders in the national capital.

Notably, this is not the first time that BJP leaders have demanded changing the names in the Capital. The Delhi BJP had made a proposal multiple times seeking a change in the names of roads which according to them “symbolise slavery from the Mughal period”.

The modified nameplates on the BJP MPs nameplates prominently display “Swami Vivekananda Marg” with “Tughlaq Lane” inscribed in brackets beneath it.

However, the parliamentarians justified the modification, saying the word ‘Tughlaq Lane’ is still there.

“If you look properly, Tughlaq Lane is written on my nameplate. But along with it, ‘Vivekanand Marg’ is mentioned. Because on Google, this road is registered as ‘Vivekanand Road’...No MP can change the names of the roads. There is a proper authority for it,” MP Dinesh Sharma said.

Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar said he changed the name as the sentiments of people are attached with Swami Vivekanand.

“Swami Vivekanand is an ideal for the youth of this country. Hundreds of years ago in Chicago, he made a place for India before the world in ‘Dharm Sansad’. Such great personalities are the ideals of this country and sentiments of the country are attached to them...So, I changed the nameplate to Swami Vivekanand Marg...,” the Minister said.