Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government`s efforts
to rename the state capital as Bhojpal yet again suffered a
setback after the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) General
Council turned down the proposal citing constitutional
provisions and merger agreement with the Indian Government.
However, Madhya Pradesh Minister for Urban Administration
and Development, Babulal Gaur said today, "The decision to
rename Bhopal as Bhojpal was taken by the state government and
now it will send the proposal to Centre for approval along
with the opinion of the local body."
"The opinion of the local body matters, but since the
state government took a decision on the issue, the proposal
will be sent to the Centre for its approval as it is only
empowered to change the name of any city or place," Gaur said.
While turning down the proposal yesterday, Congress
members highlighted that as per the merger agreement of Bhopal
with the Indian Government and the constitutional provisions,
the name of the city cannot be changed.
BJP countered the argument by highlighting that there is
a mention the Gazette that Raja Bhoj constructed Bhojtal
famously known as Upper Lake (Bada Talab).
Secondly, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had
cancelled the provisions of compulsions outlined in this
agreement, BJP said adding the Opposition is misleading the
people by taking the name of merger agreement.
The Congress said that in the municipal corporation
limits, no sign of Raja Bhoj`s rule in the city existed,
though the famous Bhojpur temple does exists in Bhojpur
village.
PTI
