Delhi AAP Government Raises Concerns Over Legitimacy of Sarai Kale Khan Renaming

New Delhi, 16th November 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday renamed the Sarai Kale Khan intersection to ‘Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chowk’ after unveiling a statue of the tribal leader to mark his 150th birth anniversary. However, the AAP government in Delhi raised concerns over the process, questioning whether the proper procedures had been followed for the renaming.

The statue was inaugurated near Sarai Kale Khan Chowk, and shortly afterwards, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, participated in the event. AAP sources pointed out that the naming authority, which oversees such decisions, was not consulted before renaming the location, where the east, central, and north Delhi areas converge.

Union government sources countered, asserting that ‘Sarai Kale Khan’ had never been formally recognized or recorded as an official name, thus making the renaming of the intersection valid. They argued that the area was not listed in any government records for the Capital.

In response, Delhi government sources emphasized that naming and renaming locations is within the purview of the State Naming Authority, which has not yet been established in the city. They questioned the legitimacy of the renaming process, pointing out that the road falls under Delhi’s Public Works Department (PWD) and there was no formal order issued for the change.

Union officials dismissed this, clarifying that the renaming of the intersection was a unique move to honour tribal identity in the capital, and it did not affect the name of the area or its prominent landmarks, such as the ISBT.

During the event, Amit Shah highlighted that in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared November 15 as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ (Tribal Pride Day) to celebrate the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.