Alleged name change creates flutter in Guntur

Vijayawada: The alleged change of name of a street under the Guntur Municipal Corporation limits created a flutter among the residents on Thursday while the opposition parties slammed the state government for its attempts at “stirring up caste conflicts and communal hatred” through such actions.

Tension was palpable after a new board came up at the second street in AT Agraharam. The board carried the name, Fathimanagar. BJP leaders and activists quickly staged a protest and complained to municipal commissioner Chekuri Keerthi against the name-change.

Municipal authorities clarified that it was a "mistake" on the part of some civic staff. “While erecting new name boards for streets as part of Swachh Survekshan programme, some staff members wrongly placed the name board there. We immediately removed it,” they explained.

The municipal commissioner ordered an inquiry into the complaint.

State BJP chief Somu Veerraju slammed the YSRC government for changing the names of prominent places, be it in Guntur or pertaining to Seethammakonda in Visakhapatnam. The YSRC government was indulging in vote-bank politics, he said.

BJP MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao strongly condemned the change of name in AT Agraharam and said the aim was to insult the Brahmin community that inhabited the area. “This represents the worst form of politics, the politics of appeasement,” he said, and demanded that the new board be removed immediately.

Municipal administration minister Adimulapu Suresh said it was unfortunate that the issue was politicised. “Some civic staff set up the wrong display board without taking the help of Swachh Survekshan officials,” he said and added that he spoke to the municipal commissioner and got a clarification issued on the issue.