Muzaffarnagar has been known by this name for centuries. Renaming it is just another attempt to erase our identity, said Imran Ahmad, a local shopkeeper
Team Clarion
MUZAFFARNAGAR – The demand to change the name of Muzaffarnagar to Laxminagar has ignited fresh controversy and strong objections from the local Muslim community. BJP leader Mohit Beniwal raised the proposal in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, urging the state government to rename the district, a move that has sparked a wave of reactions, with many expressing anger and disappointment.
The BJP government has recently been renaming districts and railway stations with Urdu origins, including Allahabad to Prayagraj, Faizabad to Ayodhya, and Mughal Sarai railway station to Deendayal Upadhyay. Critics argue that such actions are an attempt to erase the Muslim and Urdu identity of these regions, a view echoed by many in Muzaffarnagar.
Local Muslims have strongly opposed the idea of changing the district’s name. “This is an insult to our history and heritage,” said Imran Ahmad, a local shopkeeper. “Muzaffarnagar has been known by this name for centuries. Renaming it is just another attempt to erase our identity.”
Another resident, Fatima Begum, expressed frustration with the repeated renaming of places with Urdu names. “They are not just changing names, they are trying to change our very existence. We have lived here for generations, and this name is a part of our legacy,” she said passionately.
Youth in the community also shared their concerns. “We need jobs, education, and better infrastructure, not name changes,” said Ali, a young man in his early twenties. “Changing the name will not solve the problems we face. It’s a diversion from the real issues.”
Some Muslim businessmen voiced their opinions on the matter as well. “We are more concerned with the development of the region,” said one trader, who preferred to remain anonymous. “Instead of wasting time on symbolic gestures, focus on improving the local economy, providing better infrastructure, and creating job opportunities for the youth.”
Samajwadi Party leader and Muzaffarnagar MP Harendra Malik also criticised the demand for a name change. “This is a diversion from the real issues at hand,” he said. “Rather than focusing on changing the name, it would have been better to focus on setting up factories and industries in the area to employ the youth.”
On the other hand, lawyer Ajay Pundir, who supports the name change, argued, “The old name of Muzaffarnagar was Laxminagar and it should be restored.” His statement, however, was met with sharp criticism from many local Muslims, who see this move as part of a broader attempt to rewrite history.
The demand for renaming Muzaffarnagar follows a trend in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP government has renamed several districts and public places, arguing that these changes are part of a process to reclaim a pre-colonial identity. Supporters of the name change claim that it is about removing symbols of India’s colonial past. However, for many in the Muslim and Urdu-speaking communities, it is a painful reminder of the ongoing marginalisation they face under the current regime.
