Date:02/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010218931400.htm

National

Congress happy over renaming of Uttaranchal

Staff Correspondent

The move is to influence voters, alleges BJP

DEHRA DUN: The ruling Congress seems to have scored a point by getting Uttaranchal rechristened as Uttarakhand with effect from January 1, 2007. This puts an end to the controversy that began with the National Democratic Alliance Government naming the State as Uttaranchal six years ago.

Coming before the Assembly polls, the decision has left the Congressmen and a large section of the people happy, much to the chagrin of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP has described the move as deliberately timed to influence voters.

"We have merely fulfilled an election promise that was aimed at satisfying the local sentiments," said Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari.

"The issue of the common Uttarakhandis' pride has been settled honourably and we are all happy," said B.D. Raturi, president of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal which had played a lead role in the agitation.

"Stay move"

State BJP president Bhagat Singh Koshiary urged the Election Commission to stay the move as the election process had already begun.