BJP MP demands to change the name of Delhi to 'Indraprastha'

The demand to change the name of the Indian capital Delhi has come from within the BJP. The party's MP Praveen Khandelwal has proposed to change the name of the capital from 'Delhi' to 'Indraprastha' in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Praveen Khandelwal was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chandni Chowk in 2024 and was a member of the GST Committee in 2017. He has been raising this demand to change the name of Delhi for a long time, but this time he has formally presented the matter to the central government.

In the letter, he wrote, "The name of the capital should be Indraprastha out of respect for our roots. This is not just a name change, but a symbol of the heritage and cultural revival of Indian civilization."

The MP also said that along with changing the name of Delhi, he has also requested to install a huge statue of the Pancha Pandavas of Mahabharata. According to him, this initiative will reflect India's historical, cultural and civilizational roots and familiarize the new generation with the past heritage.

Praveen Khandelwal has written a letter to not only Amit Shah but also Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other ministers with the same demand. According to him, “Delhi’s history is not thousands of years old, but it is the soul of Indian civilization. Today’s Delhi stands on the heritage of the glorious culture of Indraprastha, which was established by the Pandavas.”

He wrote, “Installing the Pandava statues on the holy land of Indraprastha will revive India’s history, culture and faith. The new generation will learn about the history of justice, bravery and values ​​of the Pandavas.”

According to the BJP MP, Delhi is not just a modern metropolis, but it is the soul of Indian civilization. Therefore, like Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Ujjain and Varanasi, Delhi should also be connected to its ancient roots. He said, “The aim of this initiative is to bring the country back to its original historical state and restore its cultural identity.”

Praveen Khandelwal further argues that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of cultural renaissance, Ayodhya, Kashi and Prayagraj have already witnessed a historic revival. So why not Delhi?

According to him, "Renaming Delhi will help to convince future generations that the capital of India is not just a centre of power, but a symbol of religion, values ​​and nationalism."