Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday the decision to change the name of the Mughal Museum under construction in Agra after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
“How can the Mughals be our heroes?” The press release quoted Yogi Adityanath as saying.
“Shivaji’s very name will invoke a feeling of nationalism and self-worth,” Yogi added, according to the statement.
The CM instructed officers about the museum’s name change in a meeting it held from its official residence via video link to review the Agra division development works and the Covid-19 situation.
The Rs 141 crore museum, which is being built by the state tourism department, was the brainchild of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who announced its construction in 2016.
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“Much of the work has been completed, but the finishing touch has not yet been made. There was a shortage of funds due to the closure and the work stopped, ”said Amit Srivastava, deputy director of the Uttar Pradesh tourism office in Agra.
“The museum was supposed to house historical artifacts from the Mughal and Braj culture. It is located about 2 kilometers from the east gate of the Taj Mahal, ”added Srivastava.
In reaction to the decision to change the museum’s name, the Samajwadi Party’s Agra City Chairman Wazid Nisar blamed the yogi regime for focusing only on changing names rather than development works.
“This Mughal Museum was the dream project of then Prime Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The BJP government is not releasing the funds necessary for the completion of the project, ”he said.
Fadnavis welcomes Yogi’s decision
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is the leader of the opposition in the state legislature, welcomed Yogi’s decision to change the name of the Mughal Museum to Shivaji.
Shortly after the Agra division review meeting, Yogi tweeted in Hindi: “The museum under construction in Agra will be named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In his new Uttar Pradesh, there is no place for any symbol of servile mentality. ” Responding to Yogi’s tweet, Fadnavis tweeted, “Jai Jijau, Jai Shivrai! Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaji Ki Jai! ”
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