Kolhapur: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's opposition to renaming Amethi in Uttar Pradesh as Rajashri Shahu Maharaj Nagar has evoked strong reaction from the backward classes with over 500 youths on January 20 registering their protest against Sonia's stand.

Addressing a protest meeting at the historic Bindu chowk, Phule-Ambedkar-Shahu Manch president Dadasaheb Jagtap said a strong movement will be initiated unless Sonia changes her stand.

"Various backward class organisations were planning dharnas (sit-in) over the reported opposition of Sonia," he said.

The stand could also embarrass the Congress-led DF (Democratic Front) government in Maharashtra, ahead of the Assembly polls next year, Jagtap cautioned.

Earlier, on January 18, Sonia had vowed to block implementation of Uttar Pradesh government's decision to name Amethi after Maharashtra dalit leader Shahu Maharaj, saying there was no logic behind the decision.

"Amethi is a very special place not only in Uttar Pradesh or in the country but also abroad because it was Rajiv Gandhi's constituency," Sonia, who represents Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, had told reporters in Rai Bareilly.

PTI