Uttar Pradesh cabinet officially renames Allahabad as Prayagraj

Lucknow: Allahabad was officially renamed as Prayagraj on Tuesday by the Uttar Pradesh cabinet.

The move was announced by state Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh. "Allahabad will be called Prayagraj from today,” Singh said in Lucknow after the Cabinet meeting.

ALSO READ: Marriage to Cruise protected me against sexual abuse: Kidman

He also asked all departments including Railways to change the name from Allahabad to Prayagraj.

It is to be mentioned that earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Allahabad name would be changed soon during his visit to the city.

The Yogi Cabinet cleared the proposal amid protests by the Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

The Congress party had argued that the city had played a key role in the country’s freedom struggle and renaming it would diminish its importance.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on the other hand, took to Twitter and posted, "Yogi Adityanath government wanted to exhibit its work only by "renaming". "... They have even re-named Ardh Kumbh to Kumbh. This is toying with tradition and belief."