Right-wing parties have objected to the announcement by London-based newspaper The Independent that it would be switching back to using Bombay instead of Mumbai.
Right-wing parties have objected to the announcement by London-based newspaper The Independent that it would be switching back to using Bombay instead of Mumbai. The Congress has, however, maintained that it is just freedom of expression of an individual. Amol Rajan, the editor of the newspaper said on Wednesday that it was necessary ‘to be specific about terminology’ as journalists and hence they were making the switch.
Mr Rajan had argued that if people called it what “Hindu nationalists” wanted them to call it, they would be doing their work for them. “I’d rather side with the tradition of India that’s been open to the world, rather than the one that’s been closed, which is in ascendance right now,” Mr Rajan had said, referring to the ruling BJP.
Shiv Sena, which was at the forefront of changing the name of the city in 1995 said that the law has been passed in this regard. “Mumbai is the official name as per the law, which is abiding to all. They cannot call Mumbai with any name they deem fit. If they are Independent, then we are also independent,” Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said. Echoing the sentiments of the Shiv Sena, its ally BJP said that changing the name was an insult to the Indian Constitution and the Parliament. “It also shows British mentality of the editor. Though he has an Indian name, he is not even aware of the happenings in India. The name change was done through the Parliament and with consent from all parties,” BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said.
Raj Thackeray-led MNS also said that the city had to be referred to by its actual name, which was Mumbai. “The name change was done through law so, there is no question of right-wing mentality. Also, what about the name change of Chennai and Kolkata Now everyone has accepted the name Mumbai,” MNS leader Nitin Sardesai said.
However, Congress termed it as right to freedom of expression. “This is democracy and everyone has freedom of expression. Everyone has the freedom of expression to refer the city the way they deem fit,” Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.
