Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday announced that the Ahmednagar district in the state will be renamed as ‘Ahilya Nagar’. The announcement comes on the birth anniversary of Ahilya Bai Holkar, the hereditary noble queen of the Maratha Empire, in early-modern India.
The state government announced that to honour the revered figure, Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Mahrashtra government will rename the Ahmednagar district after her. The Maharashtra CM made the announcement at Chaundhi, Nagar district, where they commemorated Ahilya Bai Holkar's birth anniversary.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, CM Shinde and many state ministers were present in Ahmednagar to attend an event on the birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom who is known for building temples and 'dharamashalas' (public rest houses), throughout India.
“If Rajamata Ahilyadevi Holkar weren’t there, Kashi wouldn’t have remained. If she wasn’t there, we wouldn’t have temples of Lord Shiva. That’s why people want Ahmednagar renamed Ahilyanagar. I am also going to request CM Eknath Shinde about the same,” Deputy CM Fadnavis had said.
The deputy CM called the ruling alliance of BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena a “Hindutva” government.
“We are the people who chant the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We have created Sambhajinagar under your (Shinde’s) leadership, we have created Dharashiv. I believe the chief minister is ‘mawala’ (soldier) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and thus Nagar (Ahmednagar) will be renamed Ahilyanagar.”
The Union home ministry in February approved a proposal by the Maharashtra government to change the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad cities to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv respectively.
In the near future, Ahmednagar district will be officially recognized as ' Ahilya Nagar,' reflecting the admiration and respect for Ahilyadevi Holkar's contributions.
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