Historic Renaming: Port Blair Becomes 'Sri Vijaya Puram'

Andaman and Nicobar Islands BJP Vice President Sanjay Kumar Singh thanked Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Shah for renaming Port Blair as 'Sri Vijaya Puram', highlighting the move as a tribute to India's cultural heritage and freedom fighters.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands BJP Vice President Sanjay Kumar Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah following the renaming of the capital city, Port Blair, to 'Sri Vijaya Puram' on Friday.

Singh described the decision as a testament to the government's dedication to preserving India's cultural heritage and honoring its freedom fighters. In his statement to ANI, Singh expressed that the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands see this renaming as a fitting tribute to the region's rich history and cultural significance.

Earlier, Shah announced the renaming on social media, attributing the move to PM Modi's vision of erasing colonial imprints. He emphasized the unparalleled importance of the Union Territory in India's freedom struggle, noting that while the previous name carried a colonial legacy, 'Sri Vijaya Puram' symbolizes the victory in the fight for independence.

The region, once a naval base of the Chola Empire, holds historical importance as the site where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first unfurled the Tiranga and houses the Cellular Jail where Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters were imprisoned.

(With inputs from agencies.)