Right wing outfit Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday demanded that Delhi be renamed to "Indraprastha" to reflect its "ancient history and culture."
In a letter to Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, VHP Delhi prant secretary Suredra Kumar Gupta said, "The name of Delhi should be changed back to Indraprastha so that the name of the capital can be associated with its ancient history and culture."
"Names aren't mere changes; they mirror a nation's consciousness. When we say Delhi, we only see a period of 2,000 years. But when we say Indraprastha, we connect with a glorious history spanning 5,000 years," he said, reported PTI.
The group also demanded renaming Indira Gandhi International Airport as Indraprastha International Airport, Delhi Railway Station as Indraprastha Railway Station and Shahjahanabad Development Board as Indraprastha Development Board.
"Wherever there are memorials to Muslim invaders, Hindu heroes, sages, and sites from the Pandava period should also be introduced and memorials should be built near them," Gupta said.
Gupta claimed these demands have been made based on the suggestions given by scholars, historians and public representatives at an event, 'Indraprastha Punarjagran Sankalp Sabha', held recently in Delhi.
A "grand memorial" in the name of King Hemchandra Vikramaditya and a King Hemchandra Vikramaditya Military School should be established in Delhi, Gupta said.
The history of Hemchandra Vikramaditya and Indraprastha during the Pandava period should be included in Delhi's education curriculum, he added.