RAIPUR: Congress government in

has rechristened five schemes, named after BJP ideologue Pandit

, and named them after former prime ministers

,

and architect of constitution BR Ambedkar - leading to criticism from opposition BJP that it’s continuation of political vindictiveness and an attempt to erase an ideology.

A government order issued late on Monday night said Pandit Deendayal Swalamban Yojana has been re-named as Rajiv Gandhi Swalamban Yojana while Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Sarvasamaj Manglik Bhavan Yojana will now be known as Dr BR Ambedkar Sarvasamaj Manglik Bhavan Yojna.

Similarly, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya LED Path Prakash Yojna has been rechristened as Indira Priyadarshini LED Path Prakash Yojna, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Ajivika Kendra (Livelihood centre) Yojana is now Rajiv Gandhi Ajivika Kendra Yojna and Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Shuddh Peyjal (clean drinking water) Yojana has been named as Indira Priyadarshini Shudhh Peyjal Yojna. All these schemes are under the state urban administration and development department.

Opposition BJP raised the issue during the zero hour in the assembly on Tuesday when Narayan Chandel (BJP) demanded a debate on their notice for adjournment motion while his party colleague Ajay Chandrakar described the rechristening as undemocratic and it is not a good practice in a democratic system.

Intervening in matter, urban development minister Shiv Deheria said it was the BJP which began such a practice in 2004 by changing schemes named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and others. Shivratan Sharma and Brijmohan Agrawal opposed re-naming the schemes saying that its an attempt to crush an ideology.

Leader of the opposition in the assembly Dharamlal Kaushik said the names of schemes were changed overnight. He claimed that changing schemes named after great leaders is an insult to them and demanded a debate on the issue. However, ruling Congress members countered the opposition saying that BJP itself had started such a practice in the state.

Meanwhile, BJP vice-president and former chief minister

said in a statement that the state government deliberately rechristened schemes named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on the day of his death anniversary, which was observed on Monday. “This reflects the Congress mentality”, he said and sought to know what the incumbent government had done to make these schemes work better.

“Without making any new provisions, they have just renamed the schemes which clearly indicates that it's a new episode of ongoing ‘Badla-pur'—the politics of vendetta”, he added.

The opposition BJP has been accusing the Bhupesh Baghel government of acting out of political vendetta during the last one month after it launched a series of probes by special investigation (SITs) into the alleged omissions and commissions during the 15 year long BJP rules in the state.