Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Praises Renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed his support for the central government’s decision to rename Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’

In a post on X, CM Dhami welcomed the move, stating that it honors the historical significance of the Union Territory and commended efforts to remove colonial symbols. He said, “The decision of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ is highly commendable. This change highlights the rich history and glorious traditions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The efforts to free our nation from colonial remnants are truly praiseworthy.”

CM Dhami also emphasized the region’s historical importance, mentioning the hoisting of the tricolor by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the sacrifices of Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier announced the renaming on X, citing PM Modi’s vision to remove colonial imprints. Shah noted that while the previous name reflected a colonial legacy, ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ symbolizes the victory of India’s freedom struggle and the islands’ unique role in it. He added that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, once a naval base for the Chola Empire, are now poised to become a key location for India’s strategic and developmental ambitions, in addition to being a site of historical significance, including the Cellular Jail where freedom fighters were imprisoned.