Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and MLC B.K. Hariprasad has strongly endorsed the Karnataka Congress government's decision to rename the Shivajinagar Metro station after St. Mary Basilica. Speaking on Friday in Bengaluru, he criticized the BJP's opposition to the proposal, accusing them of engaging in "religion-based politics" that disrupts harmony in the Mysuru region.Overcrowding at Bengaluru Metro Stations: Impact of Transport Workers' Strike..!
Hariprasad emphasized that peace prevails in the coastal Karnataka area and warned that the government would take strict action against those delivering inflammatory speeches.Hariprasad's remarks come in the wake of a growing controversy over renaming the upcoming underground station on Bengaluru's Pink Line, which is set to open in 2026.
e argued that St. Mary Basilica, a 250-year-old historic landmark in Shivajinagar, is as ancient and significant as the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, after whom the area is named. "There's nothing wrong with honoring the church with this name," he stated. The state government has already forwarded the recommendation to the central government for approval.SAMEEHA ™ Jacquard Banarasi Silk Floral Dupatta for Women (Free Size) (Gold)
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who view it as an insult to Shivaji Maharaj. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the proposal as a tradition of insulting the Maratha warrior king, tracing it back to Jawaharlal Nehru's era.
Karnataka BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, have echoed similar sentiments, questioning if the area itself will be renamed.Tejasvi Surya Slams State Government Over Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike..!
he debate was sparked last week when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured Archbishop Peter Machado during the annual feast at St. Mary's Basilica that the government would positively consider the renaming request.
Local MLA Rizwan Arshad has formally proposed naming it Shivajinagar St. Mary to avoid confusion, highlighting the Basilica's proximity to the station site near the Shivajinagar bus depot.Tejasvi Surya Slams Bengaluru and Delhi Metro Fare Hikes, Calls for Affordable Rates..!
While some netizens have suggested alternatives like naming it after late Kannada actor Shankar Nag, who envisioned Bengaluru's metro system, the proposal underscores ongoing tensions over cultural and historical sensitivities in the state's politics.