Debate Ignites Over Renaming Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram

The decision to rename Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram has sparked a debate in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. While the BJP supports the move, citing it as a departure from British colonial legacy, the Congress and some locals oppose it, demanding that public opinion should have been considered.

A controversial decision to rename Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram has stirred debate.

Supporters like BJP MP Bishnu Pada Ray laud the change as a needed symbolic break from colonial history. However, critics, including Congress's TSG Bhasker, argue that the public's opinion was ignored. Residents are divided, with some welcoming and others condemning the move.

Announcing the renaming, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the name's significance in shedding colonial legacies and celebrating the islands' role in India's freedom struggle.

(With inputs from agencies.)