The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has injected a fresh controversy into Telangana's political landscape with a proposal to rename Nizamabad district. The party has stated that if it comes to power in the state, it will change the district's name to its historical title, Indur.
The Rationale Behind the Renaming Push
Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind spearheaded the proposal, arguing that names linked to the era of the Nizams symbolize a period of oppression and suffering for the people. He emphasized that such names should be replaced to foster cultural pride and reflect a nationalist identity. Telangana BJP State President Ramchander Rao strongly backed the MP's statement, confirming the party's support for the initiative.
Rao expanded the scope of the proposal, alleging that numerous places across Telangana still bear names from the Nizam's rule, which he described as a time marked by atrocities. "These names remind us of that period. That is the reason they need to be changed. Not only Nizamabad, but there are also many cities in Telangana whose names have to be changed," Rao asserted.
Congress Launches Sharp Criticism
The BJP's statements drew immediate and sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party. Former MP and senior Congress leader Hanumanth Rao accused the BJP of unnecessarily creating divisive issues for electoral gain. He pointed out that Nizamabad had different names in the distant past and that several governments since Independence had not seen fit to change it.
Rao warned that such rhetoric could potentially trigger law-and-order problems and urged the Telangana government to take note. He also cautioned that similar demands could follow for renaming iconic landmarks like Charminar or Osmania University. Emphasizing India's secular fabric, Hanumanth Rao stated, "India is a secular country and cannot be turned into a Hindu nation." He further alleged that while Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, real influence lies with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
A Pattern of Renaming Demands
This renewed push in Telangana follows a pattern of similar demands. The most prominent has been the call to rename Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar, a proposal first raised by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the 2020 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. Adityanath had cited the renaming of Faizabad to Ayodhya and Allahabad to Prayagraj in UP as precedents, asking, "then why Hyderabad can't be renamed as Bhagyanagar?"
The current debate over Nizamabad's name has thus reopened a charged political and cultural discussion in the state, pitting arguments about historical legacy and identity against those of social harmony and secularism.
