Last Updated: September 08, 2023, 18:56 IST
Rahul Gandhi also said that he has no problem with India being called Bharat. ( File Image: PTI)
India vs Bharat Row: Rahul Gandhi said opposition naming its alliance I.N.D.I.A. disturbed PM Modi so much so that he wants to change the name of the country
As the India vs. Bharat debate snowballs into a massive political controversy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi finally broke his silence on the issue and said changing India’s name in national invites is the government’s classic panic reaction and distraction tactics due to the fear of the opposition bloc INDIA.
Gandhi also said such controversies seem to play out every time his party raises concerns of crony capitalism, PTI reported.
Addressing a media conference in Brussels, the Congress MP claimed that the Opposition naming its alliance Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) has disturbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi so much so that he wants a name change for the country.
“I’m perfectly happy with the names that we have in our Constitution. India, that is Bharat, works perfectly well for me. But I think these, in a sense to me, are panic reactions. There’s a little bit of fear in the government. These are distraction tactics,” he responded on being asked which name he prefers for the country.
On being asked about the impetus behind the naming of the opposition bloc, Gandhi said, “We, of course, came out with the name I.N.D.I.A. for our coalition, and it’s a fantastic idea because it represents exactly who we are, we consider ourselves to be the voice of India and so the word works very well.”
The controversy around the name of India being changed to Bharat emerged when the dinner invitation from President Droupadi Murmu to foreign leaders attending the G20 summit this weekend mentioned her designation as “President of Bharat”.
Soon after the details came out, the use of the word ‘Bharat’ triggered a war of words on social media, with BJP leaders clashing with the Opposition and several celebrities and sports personalities also wading into the row.
While the BJP and its ally are of the view that the term ‘Bharat’ is clearly used in the Indian constitution and thus can interchangeably be used on national and international platforms, the opposition claims that it is being done to nullify the impact of the opposition bloc, which was named I.N.D.I.A.