In a swift civic action, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has dismantled multiple signboards bearing alternative street names in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Chandan Nagar, following strong objections from BJP leader Akash Vijayvargiya.
The former MLA, son of Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, alleged that the names reflected ties to one religion and represented a broader "Land Jihad" plot to alter local identities. He urged immediate takedown of the boards, restoration of original names, and penalties for any civic staff involved, while cautioning about potential demonstrations if demands went unmet.
The controversy intensified when photos of the signboards spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention and pressure on authorities. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav responded by ordering the removal and vowing to file an FIR against Ward 2 Councillor Fatma Rafiq Khan, accusing her of unauthorized renaming without approval from the Mayor-in-Council—a step he deemed a breach of protocol. Bhargav also called for rigorous measures against the councillor and collaborating employees, stressing that such changes bypassed established procedures.
Reports indicate over half a dozen boards were confiscated, displaying dual names such as 'Sakina Manzil Road' next to 'Chandan Nagar Sector-B Ward No. 2', 'Raza Gate' alongside 'Loha Gate Road', and 'Gausia Road' with 'Chandu Wala Road'. These reflected long-standing local usages in the crowded area, but critics viewed them as an effort to impose religious connotations on public spaces.
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Councillor Fatma Rafiq Khan's husband, Rafiq Khan, rejected the accusations in a video message, asserting that the streets had carried these informal names for nearly four decades. He explained that their request to the IMC two years prior aimed only at aiding navigation for residents and emergency services, with no input on specific labels—the corporation handled the installations independently.
A June 2024 letter from the councillor's office corroborated the appeal for signboards without proposing any names. While accepting the removals without protest, the Khans plan to discuss the matter directly with the mayor to clarify their position.
Hindu groups in the region have expressed outrage, claiming the signs attempted to replace established Hindu-associated names with Muslim ones, fueling debates on cultural preservation. BJP supporters have further demanded investigations into municipal workers, arguing the councillor could not have proceeded solo.
Local Abdul Wahid Khan noted that stripping the boards would hinder address-finding in the locality. Akash Vijayvargiya, recognized for his bold political approach, has faced scrutiny before, notably in a 2019 episode where he was charged with attacking an IMC inspector using a cricket bat amid a building demolition dispute, though a court acquitted him and others involved in 2024.
This episode underscores persistent issues of religious sensitivities in civic naming across Madhya Pradesh, a state governed by the BJP since 2003 except for a brief opposition stint.
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