Shimla to be renamed as Shymala? Here's Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur's response

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur on Monday said the government was not considering the proposal to rename Shimla as Shymala even as some reports suggested that some right-wing Hindu groups have launched a campaign demanding that state capital be renamed. 

"Let me make it clear that the government is not considering proposal to rename Shimla as Shymala. We had received a suggestion to rename Shimla and it is our duty to hear all suggestions," Jairam Thakur told news agency ANI. 

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and state health minister Vipin Singh Parmar said many cities in different parts of the country used to have historic names but they were changed. So, there would not be any harm in reverting to those.

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The debate has left people divided with some favouring the name change and others opposing it. Questioning the intention of those who want Shimla to be renamed, senior Himachal Pradesh Congress leader Harbhajan Singh Bhajji: "What is the justification (for changing Shimla's name)," asked Bhajji as he vehemently opposed the proposal.  

On October 16, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to rename the historic city of Allahabad as Prayagraj despite criticisim from the Opposition.

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The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. During his recent trip to Allahabad,  Yogi Adityanath had said there was a proposal to rename the city ahead of the 2019 Kumbh Mela.