Akhilesh Yadav criticises UP govt's decision to rename 8 railway stations

New Delhi: Following its decision to rename eight railway stations in the Lucknow division of Northern Railways after saints and freedom fighters, the Samajwadi Party has blasted the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP administration in Uttar Pradesh.

As reported by the Press Trust of India, Samajwadi Party head Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP, suggesting that the party should concentrate on preventing train accidents and enhancing railway stations rather than renaming places.

As per a directive from the Northern Railways, the new names for the Kasimpur Halt Railway Station will now be Jais City Railway Station, Misrauli as Maa Kalikan Dham, Bani as Swami Paramhans, and Jais as Guru Gorakhnath Dham, the Wire reported.

According to PTI, the following railway stations have changed their names: Akbarganj to Maa Ahorwa Bhawani Dham, Warisganj to Amar Shahid Bhale Sultan, and Fursatganj to Tapeshwarnath Dham. Nihalgarh Railway Station has been renamed as Maharaja Bijli Pasi Railway Station.

Following Smriti Irani, a former Amethi MP, who demanded that the "cultural identity and heritage" of these locations be preserved, the renaming took place.

“The BJP government is requested to also change the condition of railway stations along with the names. And when you are done with changing the names, think about preventing record-breaking rail accidents,” said SP Chief Yadav, reported PTI.