Saurabh Adhikari & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 16: In a heated press conference held today, the Congress Party of Andaman and Nicobar Islands expressed its vehement opposition to the recent decision by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government to rename Port Blair as “Shri Vijaya Puram.” Led by Mr. Rangalal Halder, President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), and accompanied by senior leaders like Mrs. Zubaida Begum and Mr. G. Bhasker, the Congress leaders slammed the government’s decision, calling it “unnecessary” and “disconnected from the real issues faced by the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.”
Mr. Rangalal Halder stressed this in his opening remarks, noting, “Port Blair is not just a name; it is a symbol of our history and heritage. This government, by renaming the city, is erasing a part of our identity that has stood for generations.”
He further added, “The people of Andaman and Nicobar are not in favour of this name change, and neither is the Congress party. We will not support the altering of our history for political gains.” Mr. Halder questioned the rationale behind the name change, especially when the island is facing more pressing issues such as poor healthcare infrastructure, unemployment, and lack of basic amenities.
Mr. Halder’s criticism extended beyond the symbolic renaming, as he pointed out several practical issues that plague the island. “What good does renaming the city do when we still don’t have functioning MRI or CT scan machines in our hospitals? Thousands of patients travel long distances only to return without proper medical care. Is changing the name of Port Blair going to fix these problems?” he asked.
This sentiment was echoed by other Congress leaders, including Mrs. Zubaida Begum, President of the Mahila Congress. She pointed out that BJP’s focus on renaming cities is a pattern seen across the country since the party came into power in 2014. “They have a tradition of changing names instead of solving real problems. What does renaming Port Blair to Shri Vijaya Puram achieve? Will the name change solve the unemployment crisis, improve the roads, or fix the electricity shortages?” Mrs. Zubaida Begum asked during her speech.
According to the Congress leaders, the decision to rename Port Blair was made without any consultation with the local residents, whose sentiments are closely tied to the city’s historical name. “Several people have called me, asking why the Congress is silent. People couldn’t sleep after hearing the news of this name change because it feels like a part of their identity is being stripped away,” Mrs. Zubaida Begum revealed.
She further expressed dismay at the lack of public consultation, noting that no local representatives or community members were involved in the decision-making process. “The government didn’t ask for the opinion of the people of Andaman. They didn’t consult public representatives. This is a dictatorship, not democracy,” she said.
Mrs. Zubaida Begum also addressed the island’s infrastructural problems, such as erratic electricity and water supply. “The roads are in poor condition, and there are issues with basic facilities like healthcare and education. There are no specialists in the hospitals, and people are forced to travel to the mainland for medical treatment,” she added.
Mr. G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee, accused the government of using the name change to divert attention from its failures. “This government has failed in every sector – be it roads, electricity, or employment. By renaming Port Blair, they are trying to shift the focus from their incompetence,” he claimed.
Mr. Bhasker also questioned the reasoning behind selecting the name “Shri Vijaya Puram,” pointing out that it holds no historical or cultural significance for the people of Andaman. “What is the significance of ‘Shri Vijaya Puram’? Why this name? The government must explain the rationale behind this decision. If you are so focused on changing names, why not choose something that honours our freedom fighters, like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?” he suggested.
Beyond the symbolic impact, the Congress leaders highlighted the practical difficulties that will arise from the renaming. Mr. Bhasker pointed out that residents will have to go through the cumbersome process of updating all official documents – from Aadhaar cards to voter IDs and driving licenses – to reflect the new city name. “Imagine the burden on a poor resident from a remote village who now has to update all his identification documents just because the government decided to change the city’s name without any consultation,” he remarked.
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