Resolution to change name of West Bengal passed, BJP opposes

Kolkata, Aug 29 (PTI) The West Bengal Assembly todaypassed a resolution to change the name of the state from WestBengal to ‘Bangla’ in Bengali, ‘Bengal’ in English and’Bangal’ in Hindi amidst strong opposition by BJP andreservation over the process by Congress and Left Front. BJP questioned the very justification of the name changewhile the Congress demanded either a mass vote on the issue orwanted a committee to be set up to decide it. The Left Front on the other hand said that there should bean all-party meeting to decide on the matter. The resolution was moved by state Parliamentary Affairsminister Partha Chatterjee under rule 169, which said that thename of the state would be ‘Bangla’ in Bengali , ‘Bengal’ inEnglish and ‘Bangal’ in Hindi. It was passed by 189-31 votes. Speaking on the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeesaid "The name Bangla has a historical and culturalbackground. I don’t have any problem with the name of ‘Bango’either. But most of the people want the name ‘Bangla’. InEnglish it will be ‘Bengal’ so that there will be no confusionwith the name of neighbouring Bangladesh." "Whenever we go out of India or to some other state weare known as people from Bengal. In 2011 we had once proposedto change the name of the state, but it was held back by theCentre. There was no decision regarding it. So we decided tobring it once again to change the name of the state to’Bangla’," Banerjee said. Later speaking to reporters, Banerjee said "Those who areopposing the name change just for the sake of politics shouldbe ashamed. It is a historic blunder and the history will notforgive them." "It doesn’t matter who opposed it. The West Bengalassembly passed it", she said. She said that the matter would now be sent to the centralgovernment and then it will be placed in Parliament. "I will request the central government to pursue thematter so that it can be placed in Parliament. We want it tobe done as early as possible," she said. The chief minister said she had a talk with Union HomeMinister Rajnath Singh on the the name change. "I told him (Rajnath Singh) that we passed it(resolutuion) in the Assembly. Now you pursue it," she said. Banerjee also criticised state BJP president and MLA DilipGhosh for his recent comments that he would not allow it to bepassed. "I will see how he can stop it. I will speak to the Unionhome minister. Who is he (Dilip Ghosh) to stop it?" Banerjeesaid. MORE PTI PNT SUN MDSMJ