New Delhi: The G20 dinner invite at Rastrapati Bhawan sent in the name of the 'President of Bharat' instead of the 'President of India' has kicked off a political storm in the country.
While the Opposition parties slammed the move from the NDA government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders welcomed the name 'Bharat' and attacked the opposition parties, including the Congress, for opposing it.
Praising Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that this is the prime minister's move to come out of the mindset of slavery.
"I think it is a proud moment for all Indians that ‘President of Bharat’ is written on the invitation. It is a move by PM Modi to come out of the mindset of slavery," he told ANI.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the name should have been changed much earlier.
"This should have happened earlier. This gives great satisfaction to the mind. 'Bharat' is our introduction. We are proud of it. The President has given priority to 'Bharat'. This is the biggest statement to come out of the colonial mindset," he said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Congress seems to have a strong aversion towards Bharat and the opposition alliance intentionally chose INDIA as its name with the aim of defeating BHARAT.
Sarma posted on X, "REPUBLIC OF BHARAT- happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL."
BJP president J P Nadda accused the Congress of having no respect for either the country or the constitution and constitutional institutions, as he asked why the opposition party hates the chant 'Bharat mata ki jai'.
The G20 Summit is being held in Delhi on September 9 and 10 under India's presidency and several heads of state from across the world, including US President Joe Biden, are attending the event.