Patna, June 13: Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader L K Advani today advocated rechristening of Bihar capital Patna as Pataliputra.
“If Benaras can be renamed as Varanasi and Bombay as Mumbai, then Patna too can be renamed as Pataliputra,” he told a rally at historic Gandhi Maidan here.
Patna was earlier known as Pataliputra and “I feel there is no harm in renaming it as Pataliputra”, Advani said.
The BJP stalwart also suggested construction of “a Sabhyata (culture) Gate” on the banks of river Ganga on the lines of India Gate in New Delhi and Gateway of India in Mumbai.
He said the area on the banks of river Ganga should be developed on the lines of Marine Drive.
Advani said his party would raise the issue forcefully in both Houses of Parliament if such a proposal was sent to the Centre by the Bihar government.
–Agencies