Ahmednagar: BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar demanded that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should change the name of Ahmed Gunar to ‘Ahilyanagar’. There are various reactions in the city. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has already demanded the name ‘Ambikanagar’, has recalled an old announcement made by the late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. In a meeting held at Wadia Park in 1995, it was Balasaheb Thackeray who announced the renaming of Ahmednagar as Ambikanagar, recalls Sumit Verma, District President, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena.
Gopichand Padalkar was stopped by the police during Ahilya Devi Holkar’s program at Choundi. He was later charged with making provocative remarks. After that Padalkar sent a letter to the Chief Minister giving all these references and demanded that the district be renamed as Ahilyanagar. Now MNS’s Verma has criticized Padalkar on this.
Sumit Verma has said that Padalkar suddenly remembered the work done by Rajmata. The deeds of Rajmata Ahilya Devi are great for Dharma, we pay homage to her. But the faith and trust of Nagarkars in Ambika Devi should also be taken into consideration. Are you running on remote control or self-respecting while demanding the name Ahilyanagar? This question was asked by Padalkar to the Chief Minister. However, what I want to ask is that the name of the Chief Minister’s father, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, was announced as Ahmednagar’s Ambikanagar. Are you going to take that responsibility forward or are you going to name someone? This is what we want to see. At a meeting held at Wadia Park in 1995, Balasaheb Thackeray had announced that Ahmednagar would be renamed as Ambikanagar. That has been the name in our minds ever since, ”said Verma.
