Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh ‘Rajim Maghi Punni Mela’ will be now known as ‘Chhattisgarh Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela’ as Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Chhattisgarh Rajim Maghi Punni Mela (Amendment) Bill-2024.

Religious Trust and Endowment Minister Brijmohan Agrawal tabled the Chhattisgarh Rajim Maghi Punni Mela (Amendment) Bill-2024 in the House on the 12th day of the budget session, on Wednesday.

Agrawal then requested Speaker Dr Raman Singh to permit discussion on the bill in the House, which was given.

Kurud BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar initiated discussion and said that the previous Congress government had tried to change the history and tradition of Chhattisgarh by changing the Rajim Kumbh Mela as Maghi Punni Mela.

Participating in the discussion on the bill, Kota Congress MLA Atal Shrivastava said that name and fame could not be earned by changing the name of Rajim Maghi Punni Mela.

Replying to the discussion Brijmohan Agrawal said that Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela was known till 13 years but the previous Congress government had changed the name of Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela due to political reasons. The BJP government has taken an initiative to revive the tradition.

The State government has amended the bill to change the name of Rajim Maghi Punni Mela as Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela that will enrich the history and tradition of Chhattisgarh. Over 25 lakh people will visit Rajim after changing the name of Rajim Maghi Punni Mela as Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela. Thousands of saints and seers, the ambassadors of the country, will visit Rajim. The Rajim Kumbh (Kalp) Mela will prevail over the glory of Chhattisgarh at national level, he said.

Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Charan Das Mahant, Patan MLA Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress MLAs sought division on the Bill.

After conducting the voting, Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh informed the House that 43 votes were in favour and 30 votes were received against it. The BJP was in favour and Congress against it.