Bengaluru metro station renaming: Fadnavis terms move an 'insult to Shivaji Maharaj'; opposition leaders join chorus

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka government’s proposal to rename Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar metro station after St Mary has triggered sharp political reactions, with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis leading the charge against it.

Fadnavis termed the move an “insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ,” accusing the Congress of continuing a “tradition” of undermining the Maratha warrior king since Jawaharlal Nehru’s remarks in Discovery of India. “I condemn the Karnataka government’s move. I pray Siddaramaiah gets the sense not to take such a decision based on religion,” he told reporters.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had said his government would consider the renaming after a request at the annual feast of St Mary’s Basilica. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar defended it, saying there was “nothing unusual” in responding to such community demands.

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan also opposed the proposal, saying, “Shivaji Maharaj, a figure respected across the country and the world, had a station named after him. If Shivaji Nagar is removed, the people of the state are watching.”