New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) BJP MLA from Shakur Basti constituency in North Delhi, Karnail Singh, has undertaken a signature campaign for renaming his constituency to Sri Rampuram.
Singh said he has already collected signatures of over 60,000 people in support of the demand. The target is to collect signatures of one lakh people, he said.
"There are around 1.5 lakh voters in Shakur Basti out of which about 99,000 voted in the assembly elections in February this year, so I have been seeking their support," he said.
Singh, who defeated Satyendar Jain, the three-time MLA from the constituency and former health minister of the AAP government, in the last assembly polls, said the demand for renaming Shakur Basti is not a "political" move.
"This is the demand of the people in the area. During elections, many people informed that they wanted the name of Shakur Basti to be changed as it has now developed into a well-developed area with high rises and it no longer remains a habitation with small houses," Singh told PTI.
The MLA, who was the richest candidate with assets worth over Rs 259 crore in the assembly polls, said the initiative undertaken by him was in the knowledge of his party organisation.
"It was suggested by many including the elderly in the area that the name Shakur Basti be changed to Sri Rampuram," he said.
The Sri Rampuram name was suggested spontaneously based on the sentiments of the people. "It is a natural choice as Lord Sri Ram exists in the hearts of people," he said.
After collecting signatures of one lakh locals, a proposal for renaming Shakur Basti will be brought in the next session of the Delhi Assembly, Singh said.
The MLA, who also heads the Mandir Prakoshth of Delhi BJP, said a request will also be made to the government and party organisation to consider the demand of the people from the area.
Earlier, a demand to rename Mustafabad in North East Delhi was raised by its MLA Mohan Singh Bisht.
The BJP MLA earlier this year claimed that the constituency has a higher percentage of Hindu voters and suggested renaming Mustafabad to Shiv Vihar or Shiv Puri. He planned to bring a proposal in the Assembly session for it but the move was later shelved.