‘The fruit does have the shape similar to the lotus flower… renaming of the fruit has nothing political about it,’ says Vijay Rupani.
The Gujarat government’s move to rename dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’, since according to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani the fruit’s outer shape resembles a lotus, has split internet and social media platforms with twitteratis and others posting comments ridiculing it or taking a sarcastic dig.
Speaking at the launch of the Chief Minister Horticulture Development Mission, a new scheme to promote horticulture in the State’s unproductive land parcels, Mr. Rupani said, “We have applied for the patent of the dragon fruit to be called ‘Kamalam’. But as of now, the Gujarat government has decided to call the fruit ‘Kamalam’.”
He added that farmers in Gujarat’s Kutch, Navsari and other parts were growing the dragon fruit and hence it should have a local name too.
“Though it is known as dragon fruit, it does not sound appropriate….