By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Press Council Chairperson Justice Markandey Katju has strongly criticized the proposal of Municipal Corporation of Delhi to rename Chandni Chowk after Sachin Tendulkar. Dr. K N Katju Memorial Trust, which is being headed by Justice Katju, has written a letter to the Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi opposing any such move by the civic agency.
Katju, argued in the letter that any attempt to rename Chandni Chowk would be a disgrace to the civilizational and cultural heritage of India,
“In Today’s National Dailies we have read news that you plan to change the name of Chandni Chowk to Sachin Tendulkar Chowk! This is a most objectionable and ridiculous move of yours,” said Justice Katju.
“Chandni Chowk is a part of the cultural heritage of India. By changing its name you will be insulting our great old cultural heritage,” Katju further added in the letter.
“Chandni Chowk was built by Shahjehan the Emperor and by changing the name you are going to do a great dis-service to the history of this great old city,” the letter further added.
What sparked the controversy was the statement made by Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi yesterday. On Tuesday Rajni Abbi said that lakhs of representations have been made to the civic agency demanding it to honor the great cricketer. One of those representations includes the proposal to rename Chandni Chowk after Tendulkar.
In order to argue that the area concerned has been known as Chandni Chowk since a very long time, Katju also said that it was Mirza Ghalib, who gave the name to Chandni Chowk by referring to it as Chandni Chowk in one of his letters.