Bihar, President Droupadi Murmu has sparked controversy by opting for the title ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the customary ‘President of India’ on invitations to a G20 dinner. This decision has triggered significant uproar, with opposition parties accusing the Modi government of intending to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ as the country’s official name. It has been confirmed that the term ‘Bharat’ was deliberately chosen in certain G20-related documents due to its status as the country’s official name, which is mentioned in the constitution and has historical roots dating back to discussions in 1946-48.
A booklet designed for G20 delegates, titled ‘Bharat The Mother of Democracy,’ underscores the long-standing tradition of seeking the people’s consent in governance throughout India’s recorded history. Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Giriraj Singh have shared their respective G20 dinner invitations from President Murmu, further fueling accusations from the Congress that the government is attempting to rewrite history.
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Senior BJP leaders and ministers have endorsed Rashtrapati Bhavan’s decision, with Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasizing that ‘President of Bharat’ is a fitting title given that India is also known as Bharat. This move has fueled speculation that the issue of changing the country’s name may be discussed during the upcoming five-day special session of Parliament, commencing on September 18.
As the Parliament session’s agenda remains unspecified, there are various speculations, including discussions on simultaneous elections and the women’s reservation bill. The widely circulated invitation on social media has elicited diverse reactions, with the opposition suggesting that it reflects the BJP’s apprehension of the INDIA bloc, while the ruling party argues that using ‘Bharat’ is consistent with the Constitution.
Several opposition leaders have cited Article 1 of the Constitution, which states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” as well as the provision that refers to the country’s president as “President of India.” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the move, emphasizing that Rashtrapati Bhavan had issued an invitation for a G20 dinner in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India.’
In another post, Ramesh mentioned the BJP’s ‘India Shining’ campaign and its responses from the Congress. He also stated that while Mr. Modi may attempt to distort history and divide India, they would not be deterred. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her view that while ‘India is Bharat,’ the world recognizes the nation as India, questioning the sudden shift towards exclusively using ‘Bharat.’
M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, criticized the government’s move, suggesting that the BJP wants to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ after the opposition alliance INDIA united to challenge the BJP’s regime. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether the BJP would change the name to ‘Bharat’ if the opposition alliance INDIA were to rename itself ‘Bharat.’
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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar asserted that no one has the right to change the country’s name. The BJP, however, welcomed the use of ‘Bharat’ in President Droupadi Murmu’s G20 dinner invitation, emphasizing its alignment with the country’s cultural heritage, and dismissed the opposition’s objections.
BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh criticized the opposition for opposing various national symbols, including ‘Vande Mataram,’ and accused them of having issues with nationalism. He emphasized that ‘Bharat’ is an ancient term, deeply ingrained in the country’s history and culture.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed pride in the term ‘REPUBLIC OF BHARAT,’ suggesting that it symbolizes the nation’s progress. He criticized the Congress party’s aversion to ‘Bharat’ and speculated that their alliance name, ‘I.N.D.I,’ was intentionally chosen to counter ‘Bharat.’ The opposition also suggested that the BJP’s discomfort with the INDIA bloc was a motivating factor behind the name change.
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The Vishva Hindu Parishad welcomed the use of the word ‘Bharat’ and suggested moving away from the term ‘INDIA.’ This controversy emerged shortly after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat advocated for the use of ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India,’ emphasizing its historical continuity. Various political leaders and parties expressed their opinions on the matter, with some accusing the BJP of attempting to divide the country and others defending the use of ‘Bharat’ as a reflection of cultural heritage.
