Hanuman Chalisa near Qutub Minar to rename it 'Vishnu Stambh'; BJP targets Mughal-named Delhi roads

A campaign to rename sites linked to Delhi's Muslim rule past is gathering steam. May 10 saw multiple such attempts, involving major political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party, and lesser-known groups like the Mahakal Manav Seva.

Qutub Minar, the 12th century monument in Delhi was targeted by the Mahakal Manav Seva. The Hindu group organised a Hanuman Chalisa recitation near Qutub Minar to demand that the monument be renamed as Vishnu Stambh. They were detained by police later.

Recently, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had said that 27 Hindu temples were demolished to build the Qutub Minar and the mosque on the premises. Therefore, temples should be built again in the area, and Hindus should be granted permission to pray there, the VHP had demanded.

Meanwhile, the chief of BJP's Delhi unit demanded that roads in the national capital named after Mughal figures should be rechristened. Adesh Gupta said that the names of these streets were a sign of slavery.

The BJP leader said that Tughlaq Road should be renamed Guru Gobind Singh Marg, Akbar Road should be Maharana Pratap Road, Humayun Road should be Maharishi Valmiki Road, and Shahjahan Road should be General Bipin Singh Rawat Road.

The BJP leader made this appeal in a letter to the New Delhi Municipal Council.