Uma Bharti Demands Renaming of Shahjahanpur, Accuses Opposition of Backing 'Names of Slavery'

BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti has called for the renaming of Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. She argues that the district should be dedicated to a freedom fighter, saint, or someone who contributed to society and Indian culture, rather than retaining a name tied to the Mughal era. According to Bharti, names like Shahjahanpur are “associated with slavery” and should be replaced to reflect the country’s true heritage.

Bharti criticized opposition parties, accusing them of “vote bank politics” by supporting such historical names. She asserted that if the opposition truly respected public sentiment, they would not support place-names linked to foreign rulers.

Her statement comes as the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has launched a “Matdata Adhikar Yatra” (Voter Rights March) in Bihar, protesting alleged irregularities in the voter list and what they term as “vote theft.” The campaign started in Sasaram and will cover more than 1,300 kilometers over 16 days, concluding in Patna. The march has seen participation from major opposition figures, including RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who have sharply criticized the BJP, accusing it of weakening democracy.

Uma Bharti also addressed Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations, defending the Election Commission’s impartiality and suggesting Gandhi should introspect on his electoral losses.