What’s in a name? Ask Bengal’s feline couple Akbar and Sita who will now be known as Suraj and Tanaya.
The lion and lioness, who were brought from Tripura to the Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri on February 12 last year, have been at the centre of a controversy since the VHP filed a case with the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the names hurt religious sentiments.
The issue was heard and disposed of in July and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave the big cats their new names, finally drawing the curtains on the saga.
The state government submitted in court that the names were given by Tripura where the lions were brought from. On Thursday, Joyjit Choudhury, Additional Advocate General, said: “This case has been disposed of. The grievance was that state government has given that name. We have proved that this is not true. This was given by Tripura authorities. When we came to know about this, the Bengal forest department changed their names so that there is no controversy. The names have been changed and sent to the competent authority. The matter has been disposed of.”
Reacting to the change, VHP lawyer Sudipto Majumdar told News18: “No animal should be named after any deity and we raised that point. Whoever has done it has done wrong. We took the said matter before the high court which also found it irregular and disturbing. During hearing, change of name was suggested by the court itself, which has reportedly materialised. Our standpoint has been established and we are happy for that.”
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