Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has triggered a political storm with his announcement that the Shivajinagar metro station could be renamed after St Mary. The statement was made during the annual feast at St Mary’s Basilica, where he told Archbishop Peter Machado that the government would consider the request.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar supported the proposal, describing it as a normal response to community demands. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited has yet to issue an official comment on the matter.
The BJP reacted sharply, accusing the Congress government of appeasement politics. Karnataka opposition leader Chalwadi Narayanaswami said the move was an insult to Shivaji and warned the government not to remove the name Shivajinagar. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the proposal, calling it disrespectful to the Maratha figure. He urged Siddaramaiah to reverse the decision.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra, also expressed disapproval, saying public sentiment should not be ignored. Party spokesperson Anand Dubey, however, criticized the BJP for politicizing the issue.
The renaming debate has widened beyond Karnataka, drawing in leaders from Maharashtra and exposing divisions across party lines on the use of historical and religious figures in naming public spaces.
