Aurangbad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv has been renamed by Union Government over the proposal made by the Maharashtra state government.
Union Home Ministry on Friday approved the renaming of both the cities of Maharashtra as they had no objection over the renaming.
A bench in Bombay High Court comprising Chief Justice Sanjay V Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep V Marne was then hearing pleas challenging a decision to rename the two cities. On this, Additional Solicitor general said that the Central government has no objection over renaming of the Osmanabad.
On 16th July 2022, Shinde government of Maharashtra approved the proposal to rename Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhji Nagara and Osmanabad as Dharashiv.
The demand to rename these cities was first raised by Shiv Sena founder and Hindutva leader Balasaheb Thackrey and accomplished by the center today.
Aurangabad was named after Mughal Bigot Aurangzeb who forcefully converted Hindus, slaughtered the cows, and demolished several iconic temples. Aurangzeb was the name behind horrific killing of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Guru Teg Bahadur and Four Sahibzade of Guru Gobind Singh.
Osmanad was again named after a ruler of Hyderabad and was renamed based on the Dharashiv cave complex in the province.