Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the reports about a decision by a British paper to use Bombay instead of Mumbai;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government proposes to raise the issue with the British Government through diplomatic channels; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) & (b) Yes. It was reported in the media on 10/11 February 2016 that the Editor of a privately-run British newspaper “The Independent”, had mentioned in an interview to BBC Radio, about “The Independent’s” decision to refer to Mumbai as ‘Bombay’.
(c) & (d) Since “The Independent” is a privately-run newspaper, the Ministry through the Indian High Commission in London, has raised this issue with the management of the private newspaper.