New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a fresh critique against the BJP-led central government, alleging that invitations to a G20 summit dinner hosted at Rashtrapati Bhawan bore the inscription ‘President of Bharat‘ instead of ‘President of India’.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Jairam Ramesh stated, “So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India’.” He further added, “Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: ‘Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.’ But now even this ‘Union of States’ is under assault.”
Mr. Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States. But we will not be deterred.
After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties?
It is BHARAT—Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust.
Judega BHARAT
Jeetega INDIA! https://t.co/L0gsXUEEEK— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 5, 2023
The G20 Summit, presided over by India, is scheduled in the National Capital from September 9 to 10, with the participation of several heads of state, including U.S. President Joe Biden.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar expressed his stance against altering the country’s name, emphasizing that no one has the right to change it. This came in response to the Congress’s claim that a G20 dinner invitation referred to the President as “President of Bharat.” Pawar mentioned that the issue would be discussed during a meeting convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday. This meeting will involve leaders of parties forming the INDIA alliance, an Opposition coalition comprising 28 parties, gearing up to challenge the BJP-led Central government in the forthcoming general elections.
In a related context, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that India is synonymous with Bharat and questioned the need for any sudden name change. She addressed the matter at a government event in Kolkata, highlighting that the world recognizes the country as India and inquired about the sudden impetus for altering the country’s name.
Just a few days ago, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had stated that “India”, should be called as “Bharat”.
