A fresh political flashpoint has emerged in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, after BJP MP Satish Gautam urged the Union Railway Ministry to rename the city's Daud Khan Railway Station, claiming the station currently bears the name of a criminal and has no historical or geographical relevance to the area. In a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Gautam demanded that the station be renamed after the legendary Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap, whom he described as a symbol of national pride and valour.
Gautam alleged that the name ‘Daud Khan’ is not associated with any known historical figure from Aligarh or surrounding areas. According to him, the station, built in 1894, does not correspond to any nearby village, town, or landmark bearing the same name. He further stated that the name evokes negative connotations as it is commonly linked in public memory with Dawood Ibrahim, a globally designated terrorist and underworld kingpin responsible for deadly attacks in India. “It is completely inappropriate to have a railway station named after someone perceived as an enemy of the nation,” Gautam stated, suggesting the current name dishonours national sentiment.
The BJP leader proposed renaming the station after Maharana Pratap, calling him a national hero whose legacy of courage and resistance against foreign invasion deserves to be commemorated. “He is a revered figure in Indian history, and naming the station after him would reflect public sentiment and reinforce our cultural identity,” Gautam said, insisting that the renaming would correct a historical anomaly and inspire future generations.
Gautam also told the press that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has responded positively to the idea, noting that the minister has previously shown a proactive approach toward introducing reforms and honouring Indian heritage through renaming initiatives.
This demand fits into a broader trend of renaming railway stations across the country to align with Indian cultural and historical figures. Stations like Faizabad Junction have already been renamed as Ayodhya Cantt, and Bhopal’s Habibganj station has been rechristened as Rani Kamalapati Station to honour a tribal queen. In Uttar Pradesh alone, other stations such as Jais and Kasimpur Halt have also undergone name changes in recent years.
