CPM Slams Telangana CM’s Proposal to Rename Road After Donald Trump
MA Baby urges Congress leadership to intervene, saying the move contradicts India’s anti-imperialist legacy and raises questions over political priorities.
New Delhi, June 18 : The proposed inauguration of ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ in Hyderabad has sparked a fresh political controversy, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly opposing the Telangana government’s decision to name a prominent road after US President Donald Trump.
CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby criticized the move, alleging that it undermines India’s long-standing tradition of anti imperialist values and national self-respect. The road, located adjacent to the United States Consulate in Hyderabad’s Financial District, is scheduled to be inaugurated on June 23 by the government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
In a sharply worded statement shared on social media, Baby said the decision was inappropriate at a time when the United States is facing criticism over its role in various international conflicts. He argued that honoring a foreign political leader through public infrastructure sends the wrong message and does not reflect the historical principles that shaped India’s foreign policy outlook.
The CPI(M) leader also drew a comparison with historical political symbolism in India, recalling how a road near the US Consulate in Kolkata was renamed after Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh during the Vietnam War era. According to him, that decision reflected solidarity with anti-colonial struggles, whereas the present move represents a departure from those ideals.
Baby further accused both the BJP at the Centre and the Congress government in Telangana of compromising India’s independent political identity. He called upon the Congress high command to review the matter and ensure that the proposal is withdrawn before the scheduled inauguration. According to him, political parties that claim to uphold the legacy of India’s freedom movement should demonstrate those values through action rather than rhetoric.
The controversy comes days after the Telangana government reaffirmed its plan to unveil ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ as part of a broader urban branding initiative. The state administration has maintained that naming key roads after internationally recognized personalities and institutions is intended to strengthen Hyderabad’s image as a global centre for technology, investment and innovation.
The road naming proposal was first announced in December last year. Alongside the Trump avenue project, the government also revealed plans to dedicate important roads and junctions to noted industrialist Ratan Tata and leading global technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and Wipro. Officials described the initiative as part of a strategy to highlight Hyderabad’s growing global profile and attract international attention to Telangana’s economic ambitions.
The issue has now triggered a wider political debate, with opposition parties questioning the rationale behind honoring a serving foreign leader through public infrastructure. Supporters of the decision, however, argue that such symbolic gestures can strengthen international visibility and reflect Hyderabad’s deep connections with global business and technology networks.
With the inauguration date approaching, the ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ project is likely to remain a subject of political discussion, highlighting the differing views on diplomacy, symbolism and public commemorations in contemporary India.
