Maharashtra: Centre okays renaming Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad as Dharashiv

Mumbai, February 24: Centre on Friday approved the renaming of Maharashtra's Aurangabad as 'Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar' and Osmanabad as 'Dharashiv'.

Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, announced the news on Twitter.

Aurangabad was named after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, whereas Osmanabad was named after a 20th century ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the eldest son of warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was the second ruler of the Maratha state. In 1689, Sambhaji Maharaj was executed on Aurangzeb’s orders.

According to some scholars, Dharashiv, the name of a cave complex near Osmanabad, dates back to the 8th century.

For a long time, Hindu right-wing organisations have demanded that the two cities be renamed.

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