In a controversial statement Indian Member of Parliament Brijesh Singh from ruling party of Bharatiya Janata Party said that their elected government for the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) will change the name of the city.
He said that the city is associated with only one Islamic seminary while the city has a better historical association with Mahabharata to which it should be associated with.
Brijesh Singh proposed that the name should be changed from Deoband to Deovrind to restore its historical value.
He said: “The historical association of Deoband with the Mahabharata needs to be highlighted and reinforced in public memory. It would be unfair if Deoband is known and talked about only as a place where Darul Uloom Deoband is located.”
The change of name was also propagated by Hindu extremist groups like Bajrang Dal but it is the first time that a member of legislative body which is ruling the state and the government has said such a controversial thing.