After the Karnataka Cabinet decided to rename the state's Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, the BJP state unit slammed Congress as 'anti-Ram' and 'anti-Hindu'.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has decided to change the district's name because of Congress's hatred for Lord Ram. He alleged that the Congress has a history of opposing the Ram temple while its allies made disparaging comments about Ramcharitmanas.
Why is Ramanagara district being renamed?
Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said on Friday that changing Ramanagara disctrict's name to Bengaluru South was done keeping in mind "Brand Bengaluru" amid the demand of people from the district. With the latest move, Karnataka will have three districts named after Bengaluru.
Patil said the revenue department will beging the process soon. The renamed district includes Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna and Harohalli taluks with Ramanagara taluk as its headquarters. The renaming is expected to help speed up development in the district amid traffic congestion and pollution in Bengaluru Urban district where the city of Bengaluru is situated.
The original Bengaluru district was created by merging Doddaballapura, Devanahalli, Yelahanka, Nelamangala, Anekal, Hosakote, Bengaluru East, Bengaluru South, Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura and Channapatna taluks.
In 1986, Doddaballapura, Devanahalli, Nelamangala, Hosakote, Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura and Channapatna taluks were brought under Bengaluru Rural district while the remaining became Bengaluru Urban district. In 2007, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna and Ramanagara were separated from Bengaluru Rural to create the current Ramanagara district, which will soon be known as Bengaluru South district.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the move will help the people of the district to retain their identity as Bengalureans. "It is the aspiration of people and our plan that the global reputation, sovereignty and glory of Bengaluru should benefit Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna and Harohalli taluks," DKS said, adding that the city of Bengaluru has scope to grow only towards Tumakuru and Ramanagara as other sides are bordering Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
BJP ally JDS has also opposes the move as Ramanagara district was created when H.D. Kumaraswamy was chief minister. This comes as Channapatna, a JDS stronghold, is heading to bypolls.
Recently, the BJP-led central government recently renamed the Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall in Rashtrapathi Bhawan as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, sparking criticism from the Congress.
