——-By S. A. HEMANTH——
New Delhi, January 28: The Mughal Gardens inside the Rashtrapathi Bhavan complex has been renamed as Amrit Gardens.
“It is to commemorate the Amrit Mahotsava of our Azaadi,” an official from the Central government has said.
However, this decision has not gone well with the Congress and several Muslim personalities.
Rashid Alvi, a prominent Muslim leader, lambasted the BJP government for its anti-Muslim, anti-minority attitude.
“On one hand the Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls upon his party cadre to reach out to Muslims. On the other hand, his government is destroying everything that has Muslim connection,” Rashid Alvi said.
But the Centre denied of any anti-Muslim attitude in this move. “The entire country is celebrating Azaadi ki Amrit Mahotsav. Several programme, schemes and projects are named after Amrit in all the states. So, this decision to rename Mughal Gardens as Amrit Garden quite fits in with the scheme of things,” a top official explained.
BJP MLC and General Secretary N. Ravi Kumar justified and defended the move.
“Why should today’s Muslims identify with yesterday’s Mughals. Today’s Muslims have nothing to do with yesterday’s Mughals. BJP regards today’s Muslims as much Indians as anybody else. What’s wrong if Mughal Gardens is renamed as Amrit Garden”? Ravi Kumar said.
Mughal Gardens was conceived by Sir Edward Lutyen way back in 1917-18. But the trees were planted in 1927-28.
The intention to copy the Persian culture in Mughal Gardens is to create an earthy utopia in which humans co-exist in perfect harmony with all elements of nature.
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