New Delhi: Poonam Sharma, the BJP MLA from Wazirpur, on Friday proposed in the Delhi assembly that the city should be renamed Indraprastha to restore its ancient identity, just the way Allahabad has been renamed Prayagraj.The MLA said the name Indraprastha frees us from a colonial mindset and reminds us of “our golden era”.Speaking under Rule 280, a legislative provision that allows MLAs to raise matters of urgent public importance without prior detailed notice or debate, the MLA said: “Foreign invaders attempted to erase the identity and name of this city, but Indraprastha continues to live on in the collective memory of the people. Adopting the name would also give Delhi a grand and distinguished cultural identity on the global stage.”Delhi has a glorious history dating back to the era of the Mahabharata, Sharma said. “Archaeological findings from the Old Fort (Purana Qila) and the heritage scattered across every corner stand as testimony to the fact that this is the very land where Dharmaraj established dharma. The term ‘Delhi’ came much later, but Indraprastha forms the very foundation of our identity. There are strong historical and cultural reasons why Delhi should be named Indraprastha.”A similar proposal was earlier sent by Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal to Union home minister Amit Shah.Sharma also suggested that monuments and statues related to the Pandavas and the Mahabharata era be established around Purana Qila and other historical sites so that the younger generation can connect with their history and heritage.She said Indraprastha was already widely in use in several institutions in Delhi — such as Indraprastha University, Indraprastha Power Station, and IP Estate — indicating its natural acceptance.An official said changing the name of a city in a Union territory like Delhi involves central govt. It usually starts with a proposal or resolution from the Assembly, which is forwarded to the LG who reviews it and forwards it to the ministry of home affairs (MHA). The MHA assesses administrative feasibility. The final decision rests with the Centre.Mayur Vihar Pocket-I metro station in east Delhi was renamed Shri Ram Mandir Mayur Vihar in Feb this year, while Pitampura metro station will now be called Madhuban Chowk, following a recommendation by the state naming authority, chaired by chief minister Rekha Gupta.
