‘Opposing plan of Aurangabad renaming won’t hit MVA govt’

MUMBAI: Days after Maharashtra Congress leaders said they would oppose any proposal regarding renaming of Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said that the stand taken by the Congress will not affect the MVA government.
Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that if there is any opposition, then the issue will be resolved. In its party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said, “The Congress has opposed the proposal of renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar.It has made the BJP happy.” He added, “But the Congress’s opposition to the proposal is not new and therefore, linking it to the MVA government is foolishness.”
Talking to media Raut said that he is sure than the state Congress leaders, including Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Prithiviraj Chavan have more respect for Sambhaji Maharaj than Aurangazeb and as far as the BJP is concerned, why didn’t they rename it in the last five years when they were in power in the state and the Centre. “They changed the name of many cities like Allahabad, which was renamed to Prayagraj,” said Raut.
State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat had said that the Congress would oppose the proposal to rename Aurangabad, and had said that the MVA government works according to a Common Minimum Programme and no decision can be taken outside it. “Balasaheb had renamed it as Sambhajinagar 30 years ago, which was accepted by people. It will soon be changed officially as well,” it said.