Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently expressed his gratitude toward the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for renaming Port Blair to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’. Fadnavis emphasised that this change is an important step in eliminating the remnants of colonialism.
In a statement to the media, Fadnavis said, “The signs of colonialism need to be eradicated. I thank the Modi government for doing this.” His comments reflect a broader sentiment that the renaming is a move towards reclaiming and redefining historical and cultural identity.
The renaming was officially announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday through a post on the social media platform X. Shah highlighted that the decision aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of removing colonial legacies and celebrating India’s rich heritage.
He noted that the new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, represents the triumph achieved in India’s freedom struggle and underscores the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ significant role in this historical context.
Shah further explained that the previous name carried a colonial legacy, whereas Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory and independence of the nation. He described the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as historically significant, recalling their role as a naval base for the Chola Empire and their importance in India’s struggle for freedom.
The islands were notably the site of the first unfurling of the Indian tricolour by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the notorious Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar endured harsh conditions.
In addition to the renaming initiative, Fadnavis also addressed recent economic measures by the government aimed at supporting local farmers. He highlighted the increase in customs duties on crude and refined sunflower oil, which is expected to benefit soybean farmers by raising the price of their produce. The government has raised the import duty on raw sunflower oil to 20 percent and on refined sunflower oil to 32.5 percent.
Fadnavis noted that this increase in customs duty will directly benefit soybean farmers by improving the price of their crops. He also mentioned the removal of the minimum export price on onions and the reduction of export duty from 40 percent to 20 percent, which will provide relief to onion farmers.
Additionally, the export duty on basmati rice has been reduced to zero, further supporting local agricultural producers.
The renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram and the recent economic adjustments reflect a broader effort by the government to address historical grievances and support local industries. The initiatives aim to strengthen national pride and boost the economic well-being of Indian farmers.
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