'India Is Not BJP's Personal Property': Oppn Slams PM Modi Over G20 Invites Featuring 'President Of Bharat'

A fresh row has erupted after the G20 Summit invites mentioned 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India'.

The 'India' versus 'Bharat' debate is witnessing further fire after G20 dinner invites from the President House read 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India'. Congress said that Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9 in the name of 'President of Bharat' instead of the usual 'President of India'. Tweeting the same, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that now Article 1 in the Constitution can read "Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States", adding that now this 'Union of States' is under assault. Ramesh said that PM Narendra Modi could continue to "distort history" and "divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States, but we will not be deterred".

"So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in the name of 'President of Bharat' instead of the usual 'President of India'. Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: “Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.” But now even this “Union of States” is under assault," he added.

Taking a jibe at the ruling dispensation, he said, "After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties?"

"It is BHARAT—Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega BHARAT Jeetega INDIA!" the Congress MP concluded.

 

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said BJP and PM Narendra Modi are 'scared' of India and question how it could be removed citing various schemes like 'Make in India', 'Skill India' among others.

"...PM Modi had given names like 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Khelo India'...They (BJP) are scared of the word 'India', Article 1 of the Constitution says 'India, that is Bharat'...How can this name (India) be removed...?" Tiwari added.

 

Our National Identity Is Not BJP's Personal Property, Says AAP

Reacting to these developments, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha asked how the BJP could strike down 'India'. He said the country's national identity is not the "personal property" of the saffron party.

"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 135 crore Indians. Our national identity is not the BJP's personal property that it can modify on whims and fancies. Judega Bharat Jeetega INDIA," Chadha said in a tweet on X with a photo of the said invite.

Party spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar tweeted a video of BJP MP Gautam Gambhir where he could be heard clarifying his alleged obscene gesture to cricket fans during the India-Pak match of the Asia Cup.

Kakkar said that the BJP MP is saying those who speak anti-India things should be treated with indecency, adding that "BJP is saying that 'India' will be removed from the constitution".

"BJP MP ⁦⁦@GautamGambhir⁩ ji is saying that those who speak Anti-India things should be treated with indecency. BJP is saying that 'India' will be removed from the constitution," the tweet read.

This comes after a video of Gambhir went viral in which, it was alleged, that he was making some objectionable gesture to a crowd of cricket fans. Later, Gambhir said it was his 'natural reaction' to some Pakistanis who were shouting 'anti-India' slogans.

 

Neither You Will Be Able To Take India From US, Not Bharat: RJD To BJP

RJD MP Manoj Jha said that the opposition did not know BJP is so week. He said that now the BJP has started sending invites with 'Bharat' instead of 'India'.

"...It has just been a few weeks since we named our alliance as INDIA and BJP has started sending invitations with 'Republic of Bharat' instead of 'Republic of India'. Article 1 of the Constitution reads 'India that is Bharat'. Neither you will be able to take India from us nor Bharat..," Jha added.

 

Congress Has A Problem With Everything: BJP

Meanwhile, the BJP has also reacted to the opposition's comments on the invites. The party questioned the opposition's remarks and asked if they were feeling 'ashamed' of 'Bharat'.

"Why is there an issue with saying or writing Bharat? Why are you feeling ashamed, Jairam Ramesh? Our nation has been called Bharat since ancient times and it is even mentioned in our Constitution. They are trying to create misunderstandings for no reason," BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said Jairam Ramesh's comments.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said Congress has a problem with everything, adding "They have a problem with everything and I do not want to say anything for the. I am a 'Bharatwaasi', the name of my country was 'Bharat' and will remain 'Bharat' always. If Congress has a problem with this, they should find a cure for it themselves".