As world leaders arrived at the Bharat Mandapam for the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the session by saying, "Bharat welcomes you". Amid a controversy over using 'Bharat' to refer to the country in official invitations for the summit, PM Modi was seen sitting in front of a placard that said 'Bharat' at the Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan.
The development comes days amid a row over the shift to India from Bharat in the dinner invitation from President Murmu to leaders attending G20 Summit. References to Bharat were made including in documents relating to Modi’s recent visits abroad including Indonesia this week.
As the debate was triggered ahead of the upcoming special session of Parliament, the agenda of which is yet to be disclosed, it prompted unconfirmed reports that a change of name could be discussed and passed during the session.
The government has used 'Bharat', a name used in the Constitution for the country along with India, in several official G20 documents. Official sources have said it is a conscious decision.
"Bharat" has also been used in a G20 booklet meant for foreign delegates titled - "Bharat, The Mother Of Democracy". "Bharat is the official name of the country. It is mentioned in the Constitution as also in the discussions of 1946-48," the booklet says.
The UN had also in the backdrop of the recent raging controversy over the likely name change hinted that if New Delhi moves and completes the required formalities for the name change the UN will go by the book and will change the name at the UN (records).
Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq, referenced Turkey's recent name change to Turkiye as an example.
The India vs. Bharat debate had snowballed into into a massive political controversy with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that changing India’s name is the government’s classic panic reaction and distraction tactics due to the fear of the opposition bloc INDIA. During a press conference in Europe, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed the controversy surrounding the "India vs Bharat" issue as a "distraction tactic" and a sign of the government's nervousness.
Modi, however, told his ministerial colleagues on Wednesday to avoid the political row around the ‘Bharat’ issue, noting that it has been the country's ancient name.