Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the ministers to refrain from speaking on the row that erupted after G20 dinner invitations sent out by President Droupadi Murmu describing her position as 'President of Bharat'. The G20 dinner invitations sent out by President Droupadi Murmu describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India' have kicked off a political storm in the country.
The opposition alleged that the move was reflective of the BJP being scared of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, while the ruling party asserted that there was nothing wrong with using Bharat as it is part of the Constitution. In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, PM Modi permitted the ministers to speak on the Sanatan Dharma row with conditions.
The row began after DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that Sanatan Dharma is anti-equality and social justice and should be eradicated. Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, compared Sanatan Dharma to "coronavirus, malaria, and dengue fever," saying it should not be attacked but exterminated.
PM Modi also advised his ministers that no one other than the authorised person should speak at the G-20 Summit. The ministers attending the dinner organised on September 9 will reach the Parliament House complex in their own vehicles and board buses to reach the venue.
The chief ministers invited for the dinner will also reach the Parliament House complex with their entourage and board buses from there. For the dinner organised on September 9, the ministers and the chief ministers will have to reach the Parliament House complex by 5:50 p.m. and reach the venue by 6:30 p.m. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed upon the use of bus pool.
'There In The Constitution': Jaishankar On Row Over G20 Invitation Cards Mentioning 'Bharat'
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India, that is Bharat, is there in the Constitution, and a meaning and understanding come with it.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, the minister said that, "India, that is Bharat - it is there in the Constitution. I would invite everybody to read it...When you say Bharat, in a sense, a meaning and an understanding and a connotation that comes with it and I think that is reflected in our Constitution as well".
The minister was asked about the opposition parties’ reaction and if the government is going to reposition India as Bharat coinciding with the G20 summit. The opposition alleged that the move was reflective of the BJP being scared of the INDIA bloc, while the ruling party asserted that there was nothing wrong in using Bharat as it is part of the Constitution.
The opposition parties also have alleged that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name. Meanwhile, speculations are strife that the BJP-led government may bring a proposal to rename India as Bharat during the upcoming special session of Parliament slated to be convened from September 18 to 22.