Sabarmati: Renown doctor Vasant Patel has in a letter to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief CR Patil demanded Ahmedabad to be renamed as Karnavati.

Patel in his letter reminded BJP that it had decided to rename Ahmedabad as Karnavati many years ago and now with a grand victory in Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the BJP should rename the city as Karnavati.

Patel in a letter made request to BJP office bearers and elected councilors for renaming the city and said his letter was his effort to connect the BJP leadership to feelings of lakhs of people of the city and the State.

He said, the announcement should be done on February 26 and the gift of renaming the city should be availed in the first meeting of newly elected councilors.

Some factual errors in Dr. Patel’s letter

– Dr. Patel has in his letter opined that with over 75 percent majority of BJP councilors in AMC, the city’s name can now be changed as per constitution’s provisions. The fact is, there’s no requirement for 75 per cent majority in AMC for renaming the city. Constitutional amendment is not required to change the city’s name. The final decision on renaming of city has to be taken by union Home ministry. The request can be made by elected civic body/ the State government with any number of elected representatives.

– Dr. Patel has mentioned that February is Karnavati’s birthday. NO that’s not true. February 26 is not the birthday of Karnavati city established by Karnadev Solanki. It is the birthdate of Ahmedabad city which has replaced earstwhile Karnavati.

DeshGujarat