Controversy erupts over renaming Delhi localities

Tribune News Service

Anshita Mehra

New Delhi, January 12

The ongoing wave of renaming localities in the national capital has ignited considerable unrest, with the latest outcry centered around the exclusion of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the signage of a car parking facility and mall in Chandni Chowk.

The construction situated on the historically significant Gandhi Maidan land, was executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model commissioned by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Delhi BJP had raised concerns over the issue by issuing a protest letter to the Municipal Commissioner and the Mayor last week. The letter urged the authorities concerned to reinstate “Gandhi Maidan” in the nomenclature of the car parking facility and also in the mall’s official address.

With no response forthcoming after a week, the Delhi BJP took matters into their own hands on Friday by installing a board reading ‘Gandhi Maidan Parking’ and featuring an image of Mahatma Gandhi outside the parking lot.

The Delhi BJP emphasised that this move aligned with public sentiments and urged the Municipal Corporation to respect the historical significance associated with the iconic name.

Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP general secretary, criticised the removal of Gandhi’s name from the area, terming the incident as ‘shameful’. He condemned the MCD’s alleged attempt to erase historical significance from the government land project and declared, “We have corrected this action today.”

Raja Iqbal Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the MCD, expressed concerns about apparent corruption within the Municipal Corporation under the leadership of Mayor Shelly Oberoi and AAP. Singh argued that removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a project built on Municipal Corporation land served as evidence of growing corruption. He questioned the relationship between the ruling party and the private builder, casting doubt on the true ownership of the parking facility and mall.

Singh announced that a letter would be issued to the Mayor and Commissioner, urging them to ensure the name remains unchanged and does not revert to ‘Omaxe Parking’. The BJP leaders collectively advocated for transparency and adherence to public sentiments in projects of such nature.

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