Naming Bengaluru’s Shivaji Nagar Metro Station after St Mary sparks political row
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A new controversy has erupted after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed naming Bengaluru’s upcoming Shivaji Nagar metro station after St Mary.
The proposal has drawn sharp political criticism, especially from BJP leaders in Maharashtra, who accused the Congress government of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in an attempt to appease minorities.
Siddaramaiah, while speaking at St Mary’s Basilica in Shivaji Nagar, said he had recommended to the Centre that the new station be named after St Mary. This announcement triggered backlash from opposition parties.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly condemned the proposal, calling it “an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” He accused the Congress of continuing its long-standing tradition of disrespecting the Maratha warrior king, dating back to Nehru’s remarks in *Discovery of India*, and prayed that Siddaramaiah would be given the sense to reconsider the proposal.
Karnataka’s Legislative Council Leader of Opposition, Chalwadi Narayan Swami, also criticised the move, questioning whether the name of Shivaji Nagar would be removed and warning that appeasement politics had led the Congress party astray. He added that such actions should not cross limits and pledged to oppose them.
Maharashtra BJP MLC Chitra Wagh joined the criticism, stating that the Congress’s “hatred” for Shivaji Maharaj had been exposed. She pointed to Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad’s demand to rename Bengaluru’s Shivaji Nagar metro station after St. Mary and raised questions about whether the Maharashtra Congress would respond or remain silent.
At the same time, Shiv Sena (UBT), an ally of Congress in Maharashtra, urged Siddaramaiah to reconsider the proposal, with spokesperson Anand Dubey emphasising that public sentiment should be respected and politics avoided.
Dubey also criticised the BJP, accusing it of lacking the moral right to speak about Shivaji Maharaj, pointing out that the foundation for the proposed Shivaji statue in the Arabian Sea, laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had seen no progress. He called on the BJP not to inflame tensions and said his party would discuss the matter with allies to find a solution.