During the opening speech of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the audience at the Bharat Mandapam. What adds intrigue to this moment is the fact that the nameplate in front of him displayed the name ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India.’
This development follows a recent controversy regarding the alteration of the name from “Bharat” to “India” on the dinner invitations sent by President Droupadi Murmu to foreign leaders attending the G20 Summit.
The United Nations has also announced its intention to update its records by using “Bharat” for India once the necessary formalities are completed by New Delhi.
This debate has arisen just before an upcoming special parliamentary session, although the specific agenda remains undisclosed. Speculations suggest that the name change may be a topic of discussion and potential approval during this session.
While certain members of the ruling BJP have proposed giving greater prominence to the name “Bharat” as opposed to “India,” opposition leaders have criticized it as a distraction and emphasized that “Bharat” is already referenced in the constitution.
