India vs Bharat: Sources say the government may pass a resolution in a five-day special session of parliament later this month.
“Bharat” was also used in the brochure “Bharat, Mother of Democracy” for foreign G20 delegates. “Bharat is the official name of the country. It is mentioned in the Constitution and also in the debates of 1946-1948”, reads the brochure. It marks a significant change in nomenclature on the international stage as the country prepares to host US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other top world leaders. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also shared a document last night about the Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia where he called him the “Prime Minister of Bharat”. The identity cards of Indian officials attending the G20 summit on September 9 and 10 will now also have “Bharat – Official” written on them. According to sources, the government may present a decision on changing the country’s name later this month during a five-day special parliamentary session starting on September 18. The fact that the government did not announce the agenda for the special session only added to the speculation.
The action drew fierce criticism from the opposition. Members of the opposition INDIA bloc accused the Narendra Modi government of “distorting history and dividing India”.
They combined the change of government with the formation of their union. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal asked if the ruling party would change the country’s name to BJP if the opposition alliance decided to call itself Bharat. National Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar said that no one has the right to change the name of the country. “I don’t understand why the ruling party is upset about the name (INDIA Bloc) being associated with the country,” the NCP leader said. BJP leaders hailed the Bharati nomenclature and accused the opposition of anti-national and anti-constitutional activities. They said that the term “Bharat” is also in Article 1 of the Constitution, which says, “India or Bharat is a Union of States.”
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the decision to use “Bharat” is a big statement against the colonial mentality. “It should have happened earlier. It gives me great satisfaction. ‘Bharat’ is our introduction and we are proud of it.” President preferred “Bharat”
The row erupted just two days after the head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP, suggested that the country leave India and move to Bharat. “We must stop using the word India and start using Bharat. The name of the country remains Bharat wherever you go. Verbally and in writing we must say Bharat,” said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
