Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 27: The Andaman and Nicobar State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has formally requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider the recent decision to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram. In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, CPI (M) State Secretary D. Ayyappan expressed concerns over the widespread protests and dissatisfaction among the islanders regarding the name change.
The letter points out that the decision was taken unilaterally by the Central Government, without any demand from the local populace. The proposal was reportedly approved by a committee whose members, including public representatives, are now under scrutiny. The letter further mentions that the Member of Parliament for the islands, despite being from the ruling party, was not consulted on the matter.
Ayyappan highlighted the potential adverse impact of the name change on tourism, a major source of income for the island’s unemployed youth. He warned that replacing the internationally recognized name “Port Blair” with an unfamiliar name could confuse tourists and harm the local economy.
Port Blair, the letter emphasizes, holds deep historical significance as a prominent site of India’s freedom struggle, particularly due to the infamous Cellular Jail and the role the islands played during the British colonial period and World War II. Ayyappan contended that the name Sri Vijaya Puram does not reflect the history, culture, or geography of the islands.
CPI (M) has urged the government to reconsider its decision and initiate a public consultation process, keeping the name change on hold until the islanders’ opinions are heard.
