J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that union Government should consider the West Bengal government’s demand to rename the state.
A day earlier union Cabinet approved renaming Kerala as ‘Keralam’, a move that triggered immediate reaction from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
She said that despite repeated requests from the State, the union government was not considering her government’s repeated requests to change the State’s official name to ‘Bangla’.
Omar Abdullah backed West Bengal name change demand.
“Other States have also proposed name changes. If Mamata Banerjee is seeking to rename the State, the Centre should accept this demand. If Kerala can be changed, and West Bengal had proposed a name change, it should be accepted” Omar told reporters in Srinagar on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar.
“If a similar proposal was to be moved in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in the future, the Centre should also give it due consideration,” he added.
The Chief Minister also welcomed Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on his maiden visit to Kashmir. The Vice President is scheduled to attend the convocation of University of Kashmir on Thursday.
“He is arriving this evening and will attend the convocation of University. Students of the University are eagerly waiting to receive their degrees and medals from him. This is his first visit after assuming office,” Omar added.
