G20 Booklet Titles India as "Bharat", Sparks Political Debate

The official G20 booklet presented to foreign delegates has labeled India as "Bharat: The Mother Of Democracy." As mentioned in the document, "Bharat is the country's formal designation, as articulated in the Constitution and in 1946-48 deliberations." 

This notable change in the global platform is observed just as India gets ready to welcome influential leaders such as US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sambit Patra, the spokesperson for BJP, recently showcased a record of the Prime Minister's trip to Indonesia, which acknowledged him as the "Prime Minister of Bharat."

Anticipation has risen due to whispers from sources that the government might introduce a resolution in the upcoming special parliamentary session, beginning September 18, to rename the country. The absence of a clear agenda for this session only fuels the rumors.

This decision has sparked intense debates, with the opposition fiercely criticizing the move. The INDIA bloc members, from the opposition, have accused the Narendra Modi administration of "tampering with history and splitting the nation." Consequently, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is set to host a high-profile meeting to address this issue.

The opposition also hinted at the possibility of a name change being a reaction to their alliance's formation. Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's leader, provocatively questioned if the government might rename the nation as 'BJP' should their alliance adopt the title 'Bharat'.

Sharad Pawar, head of the Nationalist Congress Party, voiced his concerns, saying no entity holds the authority to rename the country and questioned the government's sensitivity to the INDIA bloc's name.

On the other hand, BJP representatives endorsed the use of "Bharat," alleging the opposition of being disloyal to the nation and its constitution. They highlighted that "Bharat" is also referenced in Article 1 of the Constitution. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister, conveyed that adopting 'Bharat' stands against colonial attitudes and stated, "It was long overdue. It brings immense pride and satisfaction to recognize ourselves as 'Bharat.'"

Adding to the discourse, RSS's leader, Mohan Bhagwat, whose organization is closely associated with BJP, strongly recommended the use of "Bharat" over "India." He emphasized the importance of the name, asserting that "Bharat will always remain Bharat globally."