Mumbai/Bengaluru/IBNS: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has slammed his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah for intending to rename the Shivajinagar Metro Station after St. Mary calling it an insult to the Maratha leader, media reports said.

Recently, Siddaramaiah said his government was considering changing the metro station's name after he received a request during the annual feast at St. Mary's Basilica.

Siddaramaiah's intent was also backed by his deputy DK Shivakumar.

Hitting out at the Congress government, Fadnavis said, "I oppose the decision to rename Bengaluru's Shivaji Nagar metro station as St. Mary’s Station. The Karnataka government is insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"But, insulting Shivaji Maharaj has been a tradition in the Congress party since the time Jawaharlal Nehru was Prime Minister."

Chalwadi Narayan Swami, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, also criticised the government's plan and said as quoted by ABP News, "Will they remove the name Shivajinagar? They should not go beyond the limits. Appeasement has become the first choice of the Congress party."

Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630 – 1680) was one of the greatest warrior kings in Indian history and the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India.

He is remembered not just as a powerful military leader but also as a visionary administrator, a defender of his people, and a symbol of self-rule (Swarajya).