Maharashtra Chief Minister Takes Stand on IIT Name Change
In a significant political development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared on Wednesday that he would formally approach the Union HRD minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai. The announcement came amid growing controversy over the prestigious institute's name and its connection to Maharashtra's identity.
Political Storm Erupts Over Minister's Remarks
The controversy ignited when Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, during a function at IIT Bombay on Tuesday, made remarks that drew sharp criticism from regional political parties. Singh had stated, "Thank God, IIT Bombay has still retained its name... you have not changed it to Mumbai. It is true for Madras (too). It remains IIT Madras."
These comments immediately triggered a strong reaction from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who took to social media to express his outrage. Thackeray accused the central government of having a hidden agenda and alleged that Singh's statement reflected the government's true mindset toward Maharashtra.
Thackeray's Strong Allegations and Fadnavis's Rebuttal
Raj Thackeray didn't mince words in his social media post, stating: "The conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra was destroyed by Marathi leaders and the people, and Mumbai remained in Maharashtra. The restlessness in their stomach over their issue is once again being vomited out."
He went further to make serious allegations, claiming: "The Centre has tried to take away Chandigarh from Punjab, which was opposed by all parties, and they backtracked. Something is 100% cooking about Mumbai. Efforts have begun to annex first Mumbai and then the entire MMR to Gujarat."
Chief Minister Fadnavis firmly rejected these claims during his media interaction in Nagpur. He reminded everyone that it was BJP's Ram Naik who played a crucial role in ensuring Bombay was renamed as Mumbai originally. In an indirect reference to the Thackeray family, Fadnavis pointed out that some people conveniently don't insist on renaming schools like Bombay Scottish where their children study.
"For us in the BJP, it's Mumbai only and not Bombay. We are making continuous efforts to end all signs of Bombay and it should be replaced with Mumbai," Fadnavis asserted, emphasizing his party's consistent stance on the matter.
Immediate Actions and Political Fallout
The political drama unfolded quickly with MNS workers putting up posters outside the institute on Wednesday, proclaiming it as 'IIT Mumbai'. This visible protest demonstrated the intensity of regional sentiments surrounding the naming issue.
Fadnavis characterized Thackeray's criticism as "selective and politically motivated," suggesting that the opposition leader's stance was inconsistent and driven by political considerations rather than genuine concern for Maharashtra's identity.
The controversy has reignited the long-standing debate about colonial-era names versus indigenous names for Indian cities and institutions, with political parties positioning themselves on either side of the issue based on their ideological leanings and regional priorities.
