New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday hit back at the government after the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President House) sent out invites for a G20 dinner of September 9 in the name of President of Bharat instead of the usual President of India saying now even this “Union of States” is under assault.
In a post on X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “So the news is indeed true. 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’.”
“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,” the Congress communication in-charge said.
During the upcoming five-day special session in Parliament commencing on September 18, there is a strong possibility that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will propose a resolution to officially change the name of India to ‘Bharat.’
This comes as the official invite to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner being hosted by President by Droupadi Murmu has gone with the heading President of Bharat.
The resolution is expected to be discussed during the Special Session of Parliament, and it is seen as an effort to prevent any confusion with the Opposition alliance INDIA. Previously, invitations used the title “President of the Republic of India.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X, formerly Twitter, “REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL”.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the Modi government calling the move as an assault on the Constitution.
“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!” Ramesh said on X.
Earlier in the day, BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav told news agency ANI, “The entire country is demanding that we should use the word ‘Bharat’ 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…”
