Delhi's Iconic Akbar Road "Renamed" After Maharana Pratap, Briefly

New Delhi: Akbar Road in Delhi, one of the most breathtaking, tree-lined streets in the capital, was briefly "renamed" as a signboard was overnight covered with one reading "Maharana Pratap Road".

The yellow and pink poster, apparently put up by vandals, has been removed from the signboard under police supervision.

The iconic road, named after Mughal emperor Akbar, is home to some of the top politicians in the country and also the Congress party headquarters.

Today is the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, a renowned king from Rajasthan who went into battle with Akbar in 1576.

In 2016, a BJP leader said he had proposed to the New Delhi Municipal Council, the civic body in charge of central Delhi, that the road should be renamed after Maharana Pratap.

In 2015, the civic body had changed the name of another prominent road named after Akbar's great-grandson Aurangzeb, whose legacy is far from glorious.

Aurangzeb Road became Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road after the former president and missile man who died that year.

Union Minister VK Singh had written the same year to the government suggesting that Akbar Road or any other road in Lutyen's Delhi - the portion designed in the heart of the capital - be renamed after Maharana Pratap.

Then Union Minister for Urban Development, Venkaiah Naidu had said the government was "not involved" in such proposals and added that its focus was on development, not naming and renaming of streets.

The next year, the Prime Minister's street, Race Course Road, was changed to Lok Kalyan Marg.