Last month, the Government of Maharashtra renamed Aurangabad and Osmanabad cities as ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv’ respectively. However, the renaming has been a contentious issue with objections pouring in from various groups. The Government allowed the submission of objections and suggestions until March 27, and the final count has been released.
According to reports, more than 7.4 lakh forms were filed both in support and against the renaming of the cities. Of them, 4.3 lakh forms were in support of the renaming, while 2.73 lakh objections were filed against it. The figures may change as there is a possibility of change in the figures of objections and suggestions which were brought in cars, tempos, auto-rickshaws for submission.
The leaders and supporters of both sides have claimed that they have submitted over 5 lakh application forms each. BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde Group), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and other Hindu organizations, as well as Aurangabad Namantar Virodhi Kriti Samiti, were among those who submitted objections and suggestions until the last day.
On Monday, supporters of both groups demonstrated their strength, which led to tension at the inward-outward section of the divisional commissioner’s office. The additional police force was deployed in the office premises as a precautionary measure. Tehsildar Kulkarni announced closing the gates of the office at 6.15 pm, but people did not leave the premises, and they were driven out by police bandobast.
The officers said that the forms which suggest new names to the cities will be excluded from it. They also stated that all the information about the objections would be sent to the State Government. The forms filed in support of the renaming were accepted as suggestions, while BJP brought bunches of suggestions through a rally to the divisional commissioner’s office.
BJP city unit president Shirish Boralkar, its State unit general secretary Sanjay Kenekar, Harshavardhan Karad, Laxmikant Thete along with Lata Dalal, Amruta Palodkar, Manisha Munde, Jalinder Shendge, and others submitted the bunches of the forms at the inward and outward section. Sena district chief Rajendra Janjal, Shilparani Wadkar, MNS district chief Submit Khambekar, and others were also present.
The leaders of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul made a complaint with the divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrekar, stating that no slogans were raised while filing objections for a month peacefully. Later, Namantar Virodhi Kriti Samit members also raised slogans like ‘Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahenga, Aurangabad Naam Rahenga’ while submitting bunches of objections.
The renaming of the cities has been a contentious issue, and both sides have demonstrated their strength. It remains to be seen what the State Government's decision will be regarding the renaming of the cities.