Subramanian Swamy backs renaming of Allahabad as 'Prayag'

New Delhi, July 10 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on upheld the proposition to rename Allahabad as Prayag.

Swamy asked the intercession of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the issue.

"When our Prime Minister Modi was the Chief Minister, he had sent a proposal to the Center saying that Ahmedabad ought to be renamed Karnavati. Today he is the Prime Minister, even in one go, he can change the name. Why is he not doing that," he asked.

Swamy further requested that the names given by Mughals and Britishers be changed and old names be brought back.

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh set forth a demand to Governor Ram Naik for renaming Allahabad as Prayag, in front of the Kumbh Mela here one year from now.

Prayag is thought to be a sacred place in Allahabad, where three principle waterways streaming over the state, to be specific Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet.

It is also the venue for the Kumbh Mela, which is hosted once in at regular intervals.

According media reports, the pennants for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in 2019 say the name of the city as Prayagraj rather than Allahabad.