The media head of the Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naveen Kumar Jindal has demanded that Akbar road in Lutyens’ Delhi be renamed after the late Chief of Defence Staff,
General Bipin Rawat.
"You are requested that the memories of the country's first CDS be instilled eternally in Delhi by renaming Akbar Road after General Bipin Rawat," Naveen Kumar Jindal wrote
to the New Delhi Municipal Council last week. " This, I feel, would be the council's true tribute to General Rawat," he added.
CDS Rawat was recently killed in an army chopper crash in Tamil Nadu. In the accident, CDS' wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 personnel were also killed.
Kumar claimed that because Akbar was an "invader" and this is a prominent road, it should be named after General Rawat.
Satish Upadhyay, the vice-chairman of the NDMC, said he favours the demand. "However, the NDMC must deliberate on this."
"On social media, I saw letters from others who had made similar requests... The NDMC's decision-makers will deliberate about it before making a decision," Upadhyay stated.
From India Gate, the Akbar road leads to the Teen Murti roundabout. Along the road are several landmarks, including the Congress Party's headquarters.
This isn't the first time that demands for the renaming of the road have been voiced. Minister V K Singh had previously requested that Akbar Road be renamed Maharana Pratap Road in a
letter.
It has also been vandalised several times.
In October, a signboard on Akbar Road was vandalised, and banners proclaiming the stretch as 'Samrat Hemu Vikramaditya Marg' were placed on it. The Hindu Sena claimed responsibility
for the incident.