The West Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bajrang Dal has sent a letter to UP Urban Development Minister Ashutosh Tandom seeking a change of name of Deoband to Devvrand. Deoband, one of the five constituents of the Saharanpur district of North UP, is home to a renowned Islamic seminary and has a sizeable Muslim population. However, Vikas Tyagi, convenor for west UP, has alleged that Deoband was earlier identified with Mata Bala Sundari Devi temple and not with the Islamic seminary.
"During Mahabharat, the Pandavs spent their years in exile here. The UP government is removing the names of Mughal significance, and Deoband should be now known as Devvrand," said Tyagi. BJP MLA Brijesh Singh had made a likewise demand in 2017. He claimed that Rankhandi Jakhhwala and Jadoda Panda are testimony to Deoband's historical connection with Hindu Mythology.
The Yogi government has already renamed Faizabad to Ayodhya, Allahabad to Prayagraj and Mughalsarai to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar in the state. Right-wing activists have also raised that Aligarh be renamed Harigarh and Mainpuri as Mayan Nagar.