No plan to rename Ramlila Maidan after Vajpayee: BJP

New Delhi: After a controversy broke out over a proposal to rename the historic Ramlila Maidan after former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s name by the party ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that there was no question of renaming the ground and that some people were conspiring to create controversy around it.

A news report on Saturday quoted North Delhi mayor Aadesh Gupta, saying that there was a proposal to rename Ramlila Maidan after Vajpayee, who died on August 16.

Delhi BJP has also sought explanation from Mr Gupta for the announcement of the renaming without consulting party leadership.

Denying the report about the renaming of the Ramlila Maidan, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) said that there was no proposal to rename it after former PM Vajpayee. Sources said that Mr Tiwari called up Mr Gupta and sought clarification on the controversy.

“Mr Tiwari held a meeting with party leadership in NDMC, including the mayor. He asked for explanation and pulled them up for not consulting the state unit before considering such a proposal involving Mr Vajpayee’s name. Mr Tiwari also warned NDMC leadership not to repeat such a thing in the future,” they added.

The mayor said that no NDMC councillors approached the civic body or his office with the suggestion of renaming the Ramlila Maidan after Vajpayee.

The historic Ramlila Maidan, which is located close to the New Delhi railway station, serves as a venue for political rallies and other events, besides hosting Ramleela every year.

Delhi BJP general secretary and former mayor of North Delhi Ravinder Gupta also told this newspaper that there is no proposal to rename the Ramlila Maidan. He said that the state leadership is discussing with Aadesh Gupta about how a misleading report appeared in the newspaper.