On Panchkula MC table today: MC to consider move to rename 2 rotaries after Maharana Pratap and Udham Singh

Khattar had announced a decision to rename one chowk in every town in western and northern Haryana after Udham Singh in July, on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of his martyrdom.

Two months before that, he announced the decision to name a roundabout in Panchkula after Maharana Pratap, the Rajput king who ruled Mewar in Rajasthan and fought against Mughal emperor Akbar. The announcement came just after he renamed a roundabout in Ambala after the warrior king on his birth anniversary celebrations on May 9 this year, accepting a demand from the sizeable Rajput community in these districts.

The proposals, especially the one on Rana Pratap, are likely to face opposition. Only in February, a committee constituted by the Congress-led corporation had decided that roundabout or roads in Panchkula would not be renamed after community leaders.

That decision came after a proposal to rename roundabouts after Sir Chhotu Ram, Maharishi Valmiki Chowk and Maharaja Agarsen Marg had set off competing demands by different communities. There were demands to rename roundabouts after Bhagat Singh, Ravi Dass, Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Jambeshwar.

Khattar had earlier renamed a roundabout as Gita Chowk on the occasion of Gita Jayanti. Another roundabout was renamed after Bhagwan Parshuram after it was unanimously approved by the House. Councillors said the new proposals had put the corporation in a dilemma as the recommendation has come from the Chief Minister.

“We had already decided that no more roundabouts would be renamed. If another roundabout is renamed, several other communities would also come with proposals for renaming after their leaders. It can disturb communal harmony,” said councillor Bhawna Gupta.

Councillor Vinod Kumar, whose proposal to rename roundabout after Maharishi Valmiki was shelved, said, “When we had demanded that a roundabout be renamed after Maharishi Valmiki, then the corporation did not consider it. Then, why the proposal to rename after any other person?”

“There are so many communities. What will MC do when they raise demands? We are against it, but we have been told that Chief Minister has made an announcement,” said councillor Lily Bawa.

When contacted, Municipal Commissioner Lalit Siwach said that the proposal was included as it was the Chief Minister’s announcement.