NEW DELHI: History of 36 years has changed in 30 minutes. The Race Course Road on which the most powerful person of India (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) resides was changed to ‘Lok Kalyan Marg’ (public welfare) on Wednesday.
The road, which falls under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the civic body which manages the Lutyen’s zone area of the national capital, held a special meeting on Wednesday and approved the re-naming.
“Taking into consideration the value system — public life, cultural and social values — the council has approved the proposal unanimously so as to take the philosophy of public welfare in the mind of public at large,” said an official statement issued by the NDMC.
NDMC council meeting, which was presided over by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had its share of rough patches. The Aam Aadmi Party members — Kejriwal and MLA Surinder Singh — opposed the move saying the road should be renamed after Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru. “I had proposed renaming of the road after Guru Govind Singh while Lekhi said it should be renamed as Ekatma Marg,” said Kejriwal.
Inspired by the ideals of Deendayal Upadhayay, Meenakshi Lekhi, a BJP MP and member of the Council, had proposed the re-naming of Race Course Road to ‘Ekatma Marg’. But with both the sides unrelenting to back down from their proposals, a middle ground was found.
“I suggested that the Prime Minister should be consulted on this, but the council members decided that on the basis of suggestions received from the public, the road would be renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg,” the Delhi Chief Minister said.
“The NDMC unanimously resolved to rename the ‘Race Course Road’ as ‘Lok Kalyan Marg,” said NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar. The construction of the road began in 1980. The late Rajiv Gandhi was the first occupant of the 7 Race Course Road.
“Naming of the road as Lok Kalyan Marg is in the best interest of the nation. By this, a new spirit of doing something concrete will be developed and nation will move forward in the right direction,” said Karan Singh Tanwar, NDMC vice-chairman.
