BJP leader stirs hornet’s nest over renaming Shahjahan Road

Close on the heels of row over rechristening of Aurangzeb Road, a Delhi BJP spokesperson has demanded that Shahjahan Road should be renamed as Dashrath Manjhi Road, as the Mughal emperor was a “<g data-gr-id="24">symbwol</g> of lust”.

In his letter to Narendra Modi, Delhi BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay has asked the Prime Minister to issue <g data-gr-id="23">order</g> to respective authorities to rename the road.

Upadhyay lauded Manjhi as “symbol of love, dedication, determination and devotion” while describing the Mughal emperor as a “symbol of lust”.

“Manjhi is a source of inspiration for all youth in the country. We all seek inspiration from his dedication towards target, determination and life which is full of struggles.

“Lakhs of youngsters pay <g data-gr-id="28">visit</g> to the Union Public Service Commission headquarters located along Shahjahan Road every year. Hence, kindly issue order to authorities concerned to rename the road 

after him,” Upadhyay said in the letter issued on Saturday.

Shahjahan Road is located at central New Delhi and stretches from India Gate junction on <g data-gr-id="30"><g data-gr-id="32">north</g></g> side and Taj Mansingh Hotel towards <g data-gr-id="31">south</g>. A labourer from Bihar, Manjhi, popularly known as ‘Mountain Man’, is credited to have created a path through a 360 feet long hillock using only a chisel and hammer.

On August 28, New Delhi Municipal Corporation had decided to change <g data-gr-id="26">name</g> of Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road. The decision was taken in the wake of requests from sections of society as a tribute to the ‘People’s President’, the Council had maintained.