New Delhi, Sept 6: In a major shift  from “India” to “Bharat” on President Droupadi Murmu’s G20 invitations to leaders of different countries has triggered a huge row, with the Congress accusing the Modi-led government of rebranding the nation over political agenda.

This is the first time that an official invitation sent to heads of state for a dinner on September 9 in New Delhi has been from the “President of Bharat” instead of the “President of India”.

After the G20 dinner invitation was shared by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on X (formerly Twitter) from President Murmu, which described her position as “President of Bharat,” the invite has gone viral on social media.

जन गण मन अधिनायक जय हे, भारत भाग्य विधाता

जय हो 🇮🇳#PresidentOfBharat pic.twitter.com/C4RmR0uGGS

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 5, 2023

The Bharat Vs. India hashtag started trending on social media, resulting in a heated debate.

Although the opposition criticised the move, BJP leaders welcomed it.

“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,” said Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

#WATCH | Delhi: On G20 Summit dinner invitations at Rashtrapati Bhawan sent in the name of ‘President of Bharat’, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "This should have happened earlier. This gives great satisfaction to the mind. 'Bharat' is our introduction. We are proud of… pic.twitter.com/aQ0Pm4JYOk

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2023

JP Nadda called Congress was “anti-national” and “anti-constitution”.

Can we expect anything from a party which does not even know India's Preamble….

Congress = Lack of respect for Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar.

Shameful! pic.twitter.com/iKo3Gh1MNu

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 5, 2023

REPUBLIC OF BHARAT – happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 5, 2023

भारत गणराज्य 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/thIjwNnUDT

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 5, 2023

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said it would be “foolish” to completely drop the name “India”.

While there is no constitutional objection to calling India “Bharat”, which is one of the country’s two official names, I hope the government will not be so foolish as to completely dispense with “India”, which has incalculable brand value built up over centuries. We should… pic.twitter.com/V6ucaIfWqj

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 5, 2023

Two days ago, controversy erupted after the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, suggested that India: must be switched to Bharat.

“We must stop using the word India and start using Bharat. At times, we use India to make those who speak English understand. This comes with the flow. However, we must stop using this… The name of the country, Bharat, will remain Bharat wherever you go in the world. In spoken and written form, one must say Bharat,” said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Also Read: Don’t bring politics into education: Rakkam Sangma to MCTA on ‘political bosses’ slur

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