Bihar: Row over renaming Atal Bihari Vajpayee Park in Patna
What's the story
A political row has erupted in Bihar over the renaming of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Park in Patna's Kankarbagh area. The park was renamed "Coconut Park" by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government, restoring its original name before it was modified in 2018. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav was also set to inaugurate the newly renamed park on Monday, but it has been postponed. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the government for this decision, calling it "objectionable."
Details
BJP leaders decry park renaming decision
The decision attracted sharp reactions from the BJP, with the party leaders expressing serious concerns, PTI reported. BJP leader and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, called the renaming a crime and expressed disappointment, particularly considering the presence of a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the park. State BJP President Samrat Chaudhary also criticized the move, accusing the Bihar government of disrespecting Vajpayee despite him being a recipient of the Bharat Ratna.
Twitter Post
Renaming of park is big offense: Rai
VIDEO | "The renaming of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Park to Coconut Park in Kankarbagh, Patna is objectionable and a big offence. He is Bharat Ratna. I urge Nitish Kumar to stop Tejashwi Yadav from renaming it," says Union minister @nityanandraibjp. pic.twitter.com/qZpPs3iK0S
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2023
Row
Government move underscores political tensions in Bihar
The decision to rename the park was announced by Bihar's Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Tej Pratap Yadav. Despite the opposition's concerns, the state government reportedly went ahead with it and officially restored the park's name to "Coconut Park." This move reportedly underscored tensions between political parties in Bihar, with the saffron camp raising questions about the Bihar government's respect for former prime minister and BJP leader Vajpayee's legacy.
History
Recent row over renaming Nehru Memorial Museum
This development also comes just days after the central government renamed the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) to the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society. The decision drew serious flak from the Congress and other opposition parties. They also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre of manipulating India's history. However, the BJP denied the allegations, saying the place has been revamped to display works and contributions by all the prime ministers of India.