By: Express Web DeskNew Delhi | September 11, 2025 07:48 PM IST 3 min readMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said he will pray that the Almighty gives his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah sense to not go ahead with such a decision that is based on religion. (Express File)BJP leaders have teared into the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government’s plans to rename the Shivajinagar metro station in Bengaluru after Saint Mary with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis terming it an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Maratha warrior king.Siddaramaiah recently revealed his government’s intention to recommend to the Centre to rename the station part of the under-construction Pink Line. He said the government had received a request during the annual feast at St Mary’s Basilica. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claimed there is nothing unusual in responding to such community requests.But on Thursday, Fadnavis condemned the planned move in neighbouring Karnataka. “The Congress has continued its tradition of insulting the Maratha warrior king since the time of Nehru who made comments against Shivaji Maharaj in his book Discovery of India,” Fadnavis said.The BJP leader said he will pray that the “Almighty gives Siddaramaiah sense” to not go ahead with such a decision that is based on religion.“A request has been made to name the metro station (after St Mary). I have spoken to Rizwar (Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad), who is from the constituency. If told as to which station should be named, we will send a recommendation to the central government,” Siddaramaiah had said on the issue.Reacting to objections, Shivakumar said, “We have just discussed it. There is a request (to name after St Mary). There is nothing wrong in the request. We will take a call on that.” There were some objections on social media to the naming on religious grounds. While some demanded that metro stations should be named after the locality or after famous local personalities.Why not Shankar Nag?Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of “appeasement politics”.Story continues below this ad“Will they remove the name Shivajinagar? They should not go beyond the limits for pleasing someone. Appeasement has become the first choice of the Congress party. Because of appeasement, the party has gone to dogs now, still they are doing appeasement politics. It will not work. We will not allow it,” the BJP leader told reporters.There were also demands by some to name the station after late Kannada actor Shankar Nag, credited for his vision of a rapid transit system for Bengaluru in the 1980s.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Chatrapati ShivajiKarnataka