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UP cabinet clears proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Tuesday approved a proposal to rename the historic city of Allahabad as Prayagraj.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Tuesday approved a proposal to rename the historic city of Allahabad as Prayagraj.
Opposition parties have criticised the decision, which comes ahead of the Kumbh Mela in January next year.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"I am happy to say Allahabad will now be known as Prayagraj," senior UP Cabinet minister Siddhartha Nath Singh told reporters here.
"The government has announced this decision... It has come into effect from today.... there is a process to carry out changes and departments concerned will undertake it," Singh said, adding, letters will be written to central institutes and organisations so as to take the process forward.
Allahabad to be called Prayagraj from today: Uttar Pradesh Minister Siddharth Nath Singh in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/lo021n8rKP
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 16, 2018
The move, he said, will help highlight Indian culture at international level.
"Rig Veda, Mahabharat and Ramayana also mention Prayagraj (for Allahabad)," the minister noted.
On a trip to Allahabad on Saturday last, the chief minister had said there was a proposal to rename the city ahead of the 2019 Kumbh Mela. (PTI)