Rename Malabar Hill to Ramnagari: Corporator

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, soon after the Ayodhya visit, has decided to pursue its Ram Mandir agenda more aggressively, with senior corporator Dilip Lande demanding that the Malabar Hill area be renamed as ‘Ramnagari’.

In a proposal put up in the general body meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mr Lande said that Malabar Hill should be renamed as Ramnagari since Lord Ram and Lakshman had taken a halt at this place while journeying to Lanka to rescue Sita. Malabar Hill, an upscale residential area, is home to several top politicians and industrialists.

“The area is known by its name due to the existence of Malabari people from the British era. It is believed that Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman, who embarked on the journey to Lanka to rescue Sita, were mesmerised by its scenic beauty and decided to spend a few days here. Based on its mythological significance, Malabar Hill should be renamed as Ramnagari,” said Mr Lande, who is also the chairman of the civic improvements committee.

The proposal will come up for discussion in the December general body meeting of the BMC. This is not the first time Mr Lande has made the demand. In 2013, when he was with the MNS, he had proposed renaming Malabar Hill as Ramnagari. However, at that time, his proposal was opposed by the Shiv Sena.

Last year, Mr Lande, along with five other MNS corporators, decided to switch loyalties to the Sena. He was later rewarded with the chairmanship of the improvements committee by the Sena.