In an announcement, it was revealed that India’s Rashtrapati Bhawan has extended an invitation for a G20 dinner on September 9, using the title ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the customary ‘President of India.’
Prominent member of India’s opposition party Congress Jairam Ramesh raised concerns, suggesting that this deviation challenges the Indian constitutional wording of Article 1, which states, “Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.”
He accused the government of undermining the concept of a “Union of States.” Meanwhile, governing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders praised the use of the word ‘Bharat.’
Ramesh went on to accuse Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “altering historical perspectives and fostering division within India.” He also highlighted that the INDIA bloc’s objective is encapsulated in the acronym BHARAT, which stands for “Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation.”
Stating that Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9 in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the usual ‘President of India’, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Article 1 in the Constitution can read “Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States” and accused the government of assaulting the idea of “Union of States”.
BJP leaders hailed the use of ‘Bharat’.
Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “distorting history and dividing India” and said the objective of parties in the INDIA bloc is also “BHARAT – Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation”
“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’. 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,” Ramesh said on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter.
“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!” he added.
BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav said the entire country is demanding that the word ‘Bharat’ should be used instead of ‘India’.
“The word ‘India’ is an abuse given to us by the British whereas the word ‘Bharat’ is a symbol of our culture…I want there should be a change in our Constitution and the word ‘Bharat’ should be added to it,”
he said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the “Republic of Bharat”.
“REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL,”
he said in a tweet.
The G20 Summit will be held in Delhi on September 9 and 10.
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