BJP MLA Neelam Pahalwan Proposes Renaming Najafgarh to Nahargarh, Sparks Debate
New Delhi, Feb 27: BJP MLA Neelam Pahalwan has put forth a proposal to rename Najafgarh in southwest Delhi as 'Nahargarh', claiming that its original name was altered by the Mughals. The demand was raised during a session of the Delhi Assembly, with Pahalwan stating that the renaming effort has been in motion for a long time.
Pahalwan, who recently won the Najafgarh Assembly seat by defeating AAP's Tarun Kumar with a margin of over 29,000 votes, argued that the region suffered during Mughal rule under Alam-II and played a crucial role in the 1857 Revolt.
"During the 1857 revolt, Raja Nahar Singh fought to include the Najafgarh region in Delhi's territory. We have long been striving to restore its original name, Nahargarh. The people of my constituency have high hopes that this assembly will support the name change," said Pahalwan.
BJP Pushes for More Renaming in Delhi
The BJP's push for renaming areas in Delhi appears to be gaining momentum. Following Pahalwan’s proposal, BJP leaders also demanded a name change for Mohammadpur village in RK Puram constituency. They proposed renaming it 'Madhavpuram', claiming that the present name carries historical associations with "slavery."
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Delhi BJP stated:
"Out of the darkness of slavery into the light. BJP MLA Neelam Pahalwan proposed in the assembly that the name of Najafgarh should be changed to Nahargarh. On the other hand, BJP MLA Anil Sharma raised the demand to change the name of Mohammadpur village to Madhavpuram."
Residents of Mohammadpur largely welcomed the proposal.
"We have been waiting for this since childhood. Now, our children are leading the charge for change. We fully support it," said Kripa Ram, a local resident.
Former ward councillor Bhagat Singh Tokas recalled that a proposal to rename the village was passed in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 2021, but the then-AAP government did not act on it.
"This is a Jat-dominated village with a predominantly Hindu population. We do not have a Muslim presence here, so we want the name to be changed to Madhavpuram," said another resident.
Mustafabad May Also Get a New Name
After BJP’s victory in Mustafabad, senior leader Mohan Singh Bisht has proposed renaming the constituency as either 'Shiv Puri' or 'Shiv Vihar' once he assumes office.
However, some residents expressed skepticism over the focus on renaming instead of development.
"Changing names won’t help; the priority should be development. We need better roads, schools, and infrastructure," said Imran, a resident of Mustafabad.
Another resident, Furkhan, criticized the move, saying:
"Instead of renaming, they should fulfill promises like providing 300 units of free electricity and Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women."
BJP’s Resounding Victory Fuels Policy Shifts
The eighth Delhi Assembly session is currently underway following the BJP's landslide victory in the February 5 elections, which ended AAP’s over-a-decade-long rule. The BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP was reduced to 22 seats. The Congress failed to win any seat.
As the new government settles in, the push for renaming places in Delhi may become a recurring theme in the BJP’s agenda, sparking both support and resistance among residents.
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