Government 'imposing' Hindutva agenda: CPI on Akbar Road issue

NEW DELHI: Attacking Union Minister V K Singh over his demand for renaming Akbar Road after Maharana Pratap, CPI today alleged his view reflected NDA government's bid to "impose" Hindutva agenda on people, and insisted the name of the street should not be changed.

"It is increasingly proven that BJP government, its ministers have all become aggressive in pushing the Hindutva agenda. He (Singh) is talking about secularism. Akbar was supposed to be a secular king.

"He was called 'Akbar the Great'. It is the Hindutva agenda they are trying to impose on the people," CPI national secretary D Raja alleged.

Raja also ridiculed the government for changing name of Aurangzeb Road in Lutyens' Delhi last year and said it was "clever" of the ruling party to rechristen it after former President late APJ Abdul Kalam.

"This is the mindset which we are talking about. They want to impose their Hindutva agenda on people. Akbar Road should not be renamed," Raja said.

Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu though today spurned the demands for rechristening Akbar Road, saying "naming and renaming of streets was not on the agenda".

Union Minister of state for External Affairs Singh had yesterday pitched for renaming Akbar Road in posh Lutyens' Zone after the doughty Mewar ruler and written to Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu in this regard.

Singh's demand came amid reports that Haryana government too had sought renaming of Akbar Road after the Mewar ruler.