India's BJP changes Muslim name of Allahabad to Prayagraj

..... Allahabad, a city of more than one million people in northern Uttar Pradesh (UP) state, will now be known as Prayagraj, a senior official from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) told reporters on Tuesday.

…. Its new name, Prayagraj, refers to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, the site of the Hindu mega-festival Kumbh Mela, which is to take place in January.

….. Onkar Singh, a spokesperson for the opposition Congress party, has previously said the name change diminishes the city's role during India's struggle for independence from the British.

… The city's name change comes amid concern over what critics say is a bid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party to erase the country's diverse history and identity.

… Since Adityanath - a priest who has been accused of inciting violence against India's Muslim minority - was appointed to lead UP last year, he has proposed changing several Mughal-era names of buildings in the state.

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