New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led central government for choosing lotus, which is also a saffron party symbol, as the official logo of India’s G20 presidency.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said: India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had rejected the proposal to make the party’s official flag as the national flag, but “BJP won’t lose any opportunity to promote themselves shamelessly.”
Over 70 years ago, Nehru rejected the proposal to make Congress flag the flag of India. Now,BJP's election symbol has become official logo for India's presidency of G20! While shocking,we know by now that Mr.Modi & BJP won’t lose any opportunity to promote themselves shamelessly!
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 9, 2022
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The attack by the opposition party came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the logo, theme and website for India’s upcoming presidency of the grouping.
Reacting to the criticism, BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla pointed out that Goddess Lakshmi is also seated on a lotus flower. “Will you remove Kamal from the name of Kamal Nath? Rajiv (Gandhi) also means Kamal. Hope you see no agenda there,” Poonawalla said.
Lotus happens to be our National Flower! It also happens to be the aasan of Maa Lakshmi – Are you opposed to our national flower? Will you remove Kamal from name of Kamal Nath?
Btw Rajiv also means Kamal ! Hope you see no agenda there !!! pic.twitter.com/Y62kiHkjxR
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) November 9, 2022
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri also hit back at Congress leader saying: the lotus was declared the national flower in 1950 by the then Congress government and Ramesh was born in 1954.
“God alone knows why the Congress party chooses to denigrate & undermine every national symbol even as it is desperately out to ‘jodo’ (unite) itself,” Puri said.
The minister added that Congress leaders should carefully listen to Modi on why lotus is part of the G20 logo.
“It symbolises India’s ancient heritage, faith & thought — a symbol of hope in such tough times. Lord Buddha’s message for freedom from war, Mahatma Gandhi’s solutions in the face of violence,” Puri said along with a video of similar remarks by PM Modi.
Congress leaders should carefully listen to #PMModi Ji on why Lotus is part of #G20Logo
It symbolises India’s ancient heritage, faith & thought – a symbol of hope in such tough times. Lord Buddha’s message for freedom from war, Mahatma Gandhi’s solutions in the face of violence. pic.twitter.com/MOqsShRbtS— Hardeep Singh Puri (मोदी का परिवार) (@HardeepSPuri) November 9, 2022
PM Modi unveiled India’s G20 presidency logo
PM Modi on Tuesday unveiled the logo and theme — “Vasudhaiva Kutumba-kam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”, and website of India’s G20 presidency.
In his virtual address, PM Modi said: I congratulate countrymen on historic occasion of India’s G20 Presidency. ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ is signature of India’s compassion to world. Lotus portrays cultural heritage & faith of India in bringing world together.
“The symbol of lotus in the G20 logo is a representation of hope in these times. No matter how adverse the circumstances, the lotus still blooms,” he said.
India will assume the G20 presidency from the current chair Indonesia on December 1.
G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
