NEW DELHI: History of 36 years, changed in 30 minutes. Yes, the Race Course road on which resides the most powerful person of India, the Prime Minister of India 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 today 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 from NDMC.
NDMC council meeting which was presided over by the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal although 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 as 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, Lekhi a BJP MP and member of the Council was the one to propose 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 PM should be consulted on this but the Council members decided that on the basis of suggestions received from public, the road should be renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg," Kejriwal said.
“NDMC unanimously resolved to rename the ‘Race Course Road’ as ‘Lok Kalyan Marg’” said Chairman NDMC Naresh Kumar.
The construction of the road started in 1980, late Rajiv Gandhi was the first occupant of the 7 Race Corse 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.
Meanwhile, in order to woo the Sikh community ahead of the Punjab assembly polls ,Gurudwara Rakabganj round-about in Delhi has been changed to Guru Gobind Singh Chowk.