A resolution to rename Aligarh as Harigarh was passed unanimously by the Aligarh Municipal Corporation in a meeting held on Monday, 6 November.
If the renaming becomes official, Aligarh will join a list of places in Uttar Pradesh that have undergone a change of name such as 1) Allahabad (now Prayagraj), 2) Mughal Sarai (now Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Nagar), and 3) Faizabad (now Ayodhya), most likely because the existing names referred to the Indian Muslim history.
The Hindu nationalist groups have been demanding many places with Muslim names to be renamed.
The historical city of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh may soon be known as Harigarh, pending approval from the Uttar Pradesh government.
“I hope that the administration will take cognizance of this and fulfill our demand to change the name of Aligarh to Harigarh…This demand has been being raised for a long time…,” Aligarh Mayor Prashant Singhal said.
