'Mumbai becomes Bombay as Sena renamed it, Kolkata not to return to Calcutta as renaming was by Left'

Pic courtesy: Twitter

New Delhi: Questioning British newspaper The Independent's secular credentials over its decision to switch back to using Bombay in place of Mumbai when referring to India's financial capital, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday asked why the decision was not taken to refer Istanbul as Constantinople?

Taking to Twitter, Roy wrote, “'The Independent' of London, in burst of 'Secularism' returns to old name 'Bombay', not 'Mumbai'! How about back to Constantinople for Istanbul?'

'The Independent' of London,in burst of 'Secularism' returns to old name 'Bombay',not 'Mumbai'! How abt back to Constantinople for Istanbul?

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 12, 2016

He also alleged that the move was made because the renaming of Bombay was done by the Shiv Sena –a Hindu outfit.

“'Mumbai' back to 'Bombay' because renaming was by the Shiv Sena, but 'Kolkata' will not return to 'Calcutta' because renaming was by Left?

'Mumbai' back to 'Bombay' bcz renaming ws by the Shiv Sena; but 'Kolkata' wl NOT retn to 'Calcutta' bcz renaming was by Left #Independence?

— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 12, 2016

The Independent's editor Amol Rajan had yesterday issued a statement that the move was a stand against what he said was the closed-minded view of Hindu nationalists.

"The whole point of Bombay is of an open, cosmopolitan port city, the gateway of India that's open to the world," said Rajan, who was born in Kolkata -- formerly known as Calcutta -- and raised in London.

"If you call it what Hindu nationalists want you to call it, you essentially do their work for them," the 32-year-old told BBC radio.

"As journalists, as someone who edits The Independent, it's incredibly important to be specific about our terminology.

"I'd rather side with the tradition of India that's been open to the world, rather than the one that's been closed, which is in ascendance right now," he said, referring to the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

(With Agency inputs)