Agra, Dec 20: The Yogi government has now changed the name of Agra road from 'Ghatiya Azam Khan Marg' to 'Shri Ashok Singhal Marg', after former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal.
Agra mayor Naveen Jain, who was the chief guest at the occasion, said, "It is part of the process to change the names of places that are reminiscent of periods of slavery and it will continue."
According to Jain, the decision to rename the road was taken to honour Singhal an engineer by training, who was born in a house located on the Ghatiya Azam Khan Road in 1926. He later joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a full-time pracharak, and in 1981, became general secretary of VHP.
Earlier on November 26, Agra's Mughal Road was rechristened as Maharaja Agrasen Marg. In the same month, the name of the 'Sultanganj Ki Pulia' was also changed to 'Vikal Chok'. The Mughal Road name change was announced in the presence of Maharaja Agrasen followers and locals, the Mayor said.
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"There was a request to change the name of Mughal Road to Maharaja Agrasen by the followers of Maharaja Agrasen. A majority of these followers live nearby the road in the Kamla Nagar area through which the road passes," Jain said.
"After a demand to rename the road came, a proposal was passed by the executive committee of the Agra Nagar Nigam on September 27. After that, the members of the house passed the proposal," he added.
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"We have no idea how a road that goes from Vikal Chok to Kamla Nagar was named Mughal Road. But future generations will be inspired now that it is associated with Maharaja Agrasen," concluded the Agra Mayor.