In recent developments, a dinner invitation extended to G20 leaders by President Droupadi Murmu has ignited controversy and speculation. The invite referred to the country as ‘Bharat’ instead of the traditional ‘India.’ This deviation from the norm has raised questions and prompted further scrutiny. Adding to the intrigue, another document related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Indonesia for the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit also used the term ‘Prime Minister of Bharat.’
The note regarding the Prime Minister’s visit was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra. This move invited an immediate response from the Congress, which highlighted the usage of both the ‘ASEAN-India Summit’ and ‘Prime Minister of Bharat‘ in the same document.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to the platform to express his opinion, stating, “Look at how confused the Modi government is! The Prime Minister of Bharat at the 20th ASEAN-India summit. All this drama just because the Opposition got together and called itself INDIA.”
The G20 invitation from the President has triggered discussions about the possibility of changing the country’s name. Speculation suggests that this may be addressed in the special session of Parliament scheduled from September 18 to 22. The absence of an official agenda for the special session has only fueled the speculation.
The opposition has linked this potential move to its 28-party alliance naming itself ‘INDIA.’ Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned how the Centre would respond if the alliance decided to rename itself ‘Bharat.’ He emphasized that the country belongs to 140 crore people, not to one party, and raised concerns about potential political motivations behind such a change.
While the controversy continues, several BJP leaders have welcomed the use of ‘Bharat.’ Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his pride in the wording of the Presidential invite, stating, “REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilization is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL.” BJP President JP Nadda criticized the Congress for objecting to matters related to the honor and pride of the country.
In summary, the use of ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ in official documents has ignited controversy and political debate, raising questions about the potential renaming of the country. The opposition and ruling party have different perspectives on this matter, adding to the ongoing political discourse.
