'Prez of Bharat' invites for G20 dinner; INDIA roasts NDA govt

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: Invitations for a G20 dinner have been sent out by President Droupadi Mur mu describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', triggering a massive furore on Tuesday with the opposition alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name.

Confirming that Bharat has been used as the name of the country in some of the documents relating to G20, sources said it was a conscious decision.

On Tuesday night, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra shared an official information regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Indonesia in which he has been referred to as the "Prime Minister of Bharat".

"Bharat is the official name of the country. It is mentioned in the Constitution as also in the discussions of 1946-48," a booklet prepared for G20 delegates said.

The booklet titled 'Bharat The Mother of Democracy' also said, "In Bharat that is India, taking the consent of the people in governance has been part of life since earliest recorded history."

The move also further fuelled the speculation that the issue of changing the name of the country could come up during the five-day special session of Parliament beginning September 18.

The invitation, which was widely shared on social media, led to a storm of reactions with the opposition alleging that the move was reflective of the BJP being scared of the INDIA bloc and the ruling party asserting that there was nothing wrong in using Bharat as it is part of the Constitution.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said, "We all know India is Bharat, but the world knows us as India."

What changed suddenly that we should use only Bharat, she asked. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar said no one has the right to change the country's name.

The opposition also claimed that it was reflective of the BJP's "jitteriness" over the INDIA bloc. The Congress, in a post on X, also said, "So scared of INDIA? Is this the Modi government's hatred for the opposition or the whim of a scared dictator?"

All because INDIA bloc gaining traction?

Since the coalition of 27 opposition parties united under the banner of INDIA, which stands for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, the BJP has grappled with defining its strategy.

Branding experts have noted that the alliance's name, INDIA, has generated considerable attention.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin remarked, 'It appears that the BJP is unsettled by a single word - INDIA - because they acknowledge the potency of unity within the opposition. Come election time, 'INDIA' will drive the BJP out of power!"

What do Constitution & SC say

Article 1 of the Constitution states that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”

In March 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed a PIL (public interest litigation) seeking a name change from 'India' to 'Bharat,' strongly objecting to the petition.

“Bharat or India? You want to call it Bharat, go right ahead. Someone wants to call it India, let them call it India," the then Chief Justice TS Thakur had said at the time.

In 2020, the SC once again refused to entertain a similar plea seeking a name change from India to Bharat.

“Bharat and India are both names given in the Constitution. India is already called ‘Bharat’ in the Constitution,” the then Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had stated. 

Agenda in Parl special session to include bill?

Now as a special session of Parliament will be held, the Modi-led government may decide to make 'Bharat' the official name of the country, however they will require to introduce a bill in the Parliament to amend Article 1 of the Constitution.

Article 368 allows the Constitution to be amended through either a simple majority amendment or a special majority amendment. 

Oppn hopes 'govt will not be foolish'

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor hopes the government will not be so foolish to dispense with 'India' which has incalculable brand value.

Another leader Jairam Ramesh says, "Now, Article 1 can read: Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States. Even this Union of States is under assault.