Overview
- Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged the ruling party is monetising sacred and national icons by allowing corporate-branded names on Mumbai Metro stations.
- Stations cited include Kotak Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, ICICI Lombard Siddhivinayak, HDFC Life Mahalaxmi, and Nippon India MF Acharya Atre.
- Sawant called for clear responses from Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on whether they endorse the branding practice.
- He further alleged the removal of Congress leaders’ names, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sanjay Gandhi, and said the focus on renaming diverts attention from unemployment, inflation and farmers’ distress.
- BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye rejected the charges, saying station names were kept as they are and arguing Congress has no standing after retaining British-era names.