'Irritated Govt Because We Named Our Coalition I.N.D.I.A': Rahul Gandhi On India Vs Bharat Debate — Watch

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that by naming their alliance I.N.D.I.A, the Opposition "irritated the government a little bit", further remarking that the Centre was acting "in strange ways".

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday waded in on the ongoing debate over whether India should officially be called 'Bharat' claiming that by naming their alliance I.N.D.I.A, the Opposition "irritated the government a little bit", further remarking that the Centre was acting "in strange ways". His remarks come in the wake of a recent move by the Union government to emphasise 'Bharat' in official contexts amid the two-day G20 leaders' Summit in New Delhi, which has led to a political furor.

"The Constitution actually uses both names. It starts with 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.' So, I don't really see a problem there. Both words are perfectly acceptable, but I think maybe we irritated the government a little bit because we named our coalition 'INDIA,' so that got them all heated up," said Rahul Gandhi during a public interaction in Paris.

"Now they have decided to change the name of the country... We can always give our coalition a second name as well, so I don't think it'll solve the purpose, but people act in strange ways," he remarked.

A dinner invitation sent to G20 delegates and guests carried the title 'President of Bharat,' fueling allegations that the government aims to reduce the use of 'India' as the official name of the country. Following this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday introduced as the leader representing 'Bharat' at the G20 Summit, and official documents used 'Bharat' alongside 'India.' 

Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have drawn a connection between this development and their decision to name their alliance 'INDIA.'

Earlier, AAP leader Raghav Chadha proposed that the united Opposition alliance might consider renaming itself 'Bharat' in response to the government's actions. He remarked, "We might consider changing the name of our alliance to BHARAT in the next meeting. Meanwhile, the BJP should now start thinking of a new name for the country."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed similar sentiments, questioning the government's motivation and stating, "The country belongs to 140 crore people and not to one party. If I.N.D.I.A alliance rechristens itself Bharat, will they change the name of Bharat also", as quoted by news agency PTI.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meanwhile endorsed the use of 'Bharat,' emphasising its cultural roots. Some BJP leaders argue that 'India' is a colonial legacy. However, the party has largely steered clear of actively engaging in the 'Bharat vs India' debate, acknowledging that the Constitution recognises both names for the nation.

As the debate unfolds, it continues to fuel discussions about the significance of names and the historical and cultural connotations they carry in the diverse and complex landscape of India.