Renaming of Faizabad, Alld divisions too on cards

LUCKNOW: The state government is set to change the names of Allahabad and Faizabad divisions to Prayagraj and Ayodhya divisions in consonance with the renaming of the two districts, an official said.

Allahabad district was renamed as Prayagraj last month and the renaming of Faizabad district as Ayodhya was announced on the Diwali eve.

A senior officer of the state government said, “Yes, Allahabad is non-existent. We will seek the state cabinet’s approval to rename Allahabad division as Prayagraj division.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has already announced the renaming of Faizabad (district) as Ayodhya. So, we will seek the state cabinet’s formal approval to rename Faizabad district and division as Ayodhya,” said a senior government officer.

“We are completing the necessary formalities. The issue is likely to come up at the state cabinet meeting likely to be held on Tuesday,” said the officer.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the state government is contemplating moves to change names of many other districts as well. Those associated with the ruling have sought change in the name of Aligarh to Harigarh and Azamgarh to Aryamgarh. Besides, BJP MLA from Agra Jagan Prasad Garg has demanded that Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, be renamed as Agravan as there were many followers of Maharaj Agrasen (Agarwals) and Van (forests) in Agra.

Sangeet Som, the BJP MLA from Sardhana in Meerut, has also demanded that Muzaffarnagar be renamed as Laxminagar. “We have come across the demands for renaming many other districts. As of now, the proposals about renaming Faizabad district and division as Ayodhya and Allahabad division as Prayagraj are being sent to the state cabinet,” said another officer.