UP revenue board suggests renaming Meerut as Nathuram Godse Nagar

Uttar Pradesh government’s board of revenue has sought response from the District Magistrate for renaming Meerut district as Pandit Nathuram Godse Nagar.

According to a report in The Times of India, the letter had suggestions for changing the name of Hapur as Mahant Avaidyanath Nagar and Ghaziabad as Mahant Digvijay Nagar in the integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) of Uttar Pradesh government.

Sources told TOI that the demand for renaming Hapur behind Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s guru was rejected by the district administration.

Reports suggest that three reminders, including the last one issued on December 2, from Lucknow were sent in the past four months which said that the board officials needed to close the demand within a limited frame of time.

Officials from the state have said that they get several demands and requests on the ‘Jansunswai’ portal, most of which are referred to the IGRS and hence it is difficult to tell which organisation has made the demand. However, they have confirmed that an outfit claiming to be Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha in the district demanded the change of name on November 15, reported TOI.

The demand for renaming Meerut after Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse has been longstanding from the Hindu Mahasabha.

An official told TOI that if they don’t close the references with the deadline, it’ll show as outstanding issues and will need explanations when brought up during the CM’s review meetings.

“Whenever there is such a demand or request the government refers them to the district administration for their comment. The government takes a decision based on historical facts and other considerations,” said the official.

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