New Delhi: A recent invite from Rashtrapati Bhavan has sparked a major political debate in India. The invitation for a G20 dinner referred to the head of state as the ‘President of Bharat,’ raising questions about the possibility of a name change for the nation. While the opposition has seized upon this development, alleging a potential alteration in the country’s identity, BJP leaders have hinted at the prospect of ‘Bharat’ replacing ‘India’.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha posted a picture of the invite.

The BJP’s recent move to change the reference from ‘President of India’ to ‘President of Bharat’ on official G20 summit invitations has raised eyebrows and ignited a public debate. How can the BJP strike down ‘INDIA’? The country doesn’t belong to a political party; it belongs to… pic.twitter.com/riYNdQBkYa

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 5, 2023

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Opposition’s sharp critique

Opposition parties wasted no time in raising concerns about the invite. On Tuesday, they pointed out that the traditional ‘President of India’ title was notably replaced with ‘President of Bharat.’ Congress member Jairam Ramesh, in a somewhat sarcastic tone, suggested that this development might necessitate an amendment to Article 1 of the Constitution. He humorously proposed, “Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.” Ramesh’s commentary underscored the seriousness with which the opposition views this change.

Distorting the concept of Union of States?

Ramesh further emphasized that the ‘Union of States’ concept, as stipulated in the Constitution, appears to be facing challenges amid these developments. The alteration in addressing the head of state has left many wondering about the government’s intentions regarding the nation’s nomenclature.

BJP leaders play defender

On the flip side, leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have hinted at the possibility of a name change. JP Nadda, the party’s chief, questioned the Congress’s objections, characterizing them as impinging upon the nation’s ‘honour’ and ‘pride.’

कांग्रेस को देश के सम्मान एवं गौरव से जुड़े हर विषय से इतनी आपत्ति क्यों है?

भारत जोड़ो के नाम पर राजनीतिक यात्रा करने वालों को “भारत माता की जय” के उद्घोष से नफरत क्यों है?

स्पष्ट है कि कांग्रेस के मन में न देश के प्रति सम्मान है, न देश के संविधान के प्रति और न ही संवैधानिक…

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 5, 2023

Adding to the intrigue, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma voiced his support for the idea, suggesting that India’s future might lie as the ‘Republic of Bharat.’ He expressed his pride in the nation’s civilizational heritage and its forward march into an ‘Amrit Kaal’ or a golden era.

“Now my apprehension has proven to be true. The Congress party seems to have a strong aversion towards Bharat. It appears that the name ‘I.N.D.I alliance’ was intentionally chosen with the aim of defeating BHARAT.” https://t.co/fTFPz1oZk4

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 5, 2023

Name change speculation

The controversy surrounding the invite has fueled speculation about a potential name change for India during the special parliamentary session scheduled for September 18-22. While this remains conjecture at this point, it’s clear that the topic of India’s identity has taken center stage in the nation’s political discourse.

As the debates and discussions continue, the question of whether ‘Bharat’ will officially supersede ‘India’ remains a matter of keen interest and a subject of national contemplation.