Amidst India-Bharat Debate, Raghav Chadha Suggests Alliance Name Change to BHARAT

New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Bharat row, and advised the party to think of a new name for the nation if the I.N.D.I.A bloc changes its name to 'Bharat'.

Chadha's attack comes after sources revealed that the Centre is considering amending Article 1 of the Constitution, which starts with the words "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States".

The controversy was fuelled after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared an invitation for a G20 dinner extended by "the President of Bharat".

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.”…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 5, 2023

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also strengthened the speculations of the amendment with a post on Twitter which read, "REPUBLIC OF BHARAT - happy and proud that our civilisation is marching ahead boldly towards AMRIT KAAL."

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

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

Chadha said that the BJP is trying to change the name of the country for its own political gains.

"The BJP is trying to change the name of the country for its own political gains. They are doing this because they know that the I.N.D.I.A bloc is considering changing its name to 'Bharat'. If the I.N.D.I.A bloc changes its name to 'Bharat', then the BJP will be left with no name for the country," Chadha said.

We might consider changing the name of our alliance to BHARAT in the next meeting.

Meanwhile the BJP should now start thinking of a new name for the country.

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 5, 2023

He also asked the BJP to think of a new name for the nation if the I.N.D.I.A bloc changes its name to 'Bharat'.

"The BJP should now start thinking of a new name for the country. They can't keep calling it India if the I.N.D.I.A bloc changes its name to 'Bharat'," Chadha said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also questioned the potential amendment and said that it is betrayal to the nation.

Also Read : President of India wrote on G20 dinner card: Congress's allegation - this is an attack on the federal structure; This program is to be held on September 9 at Rashtrapati Bhavan

"It is being said that because of the name of I.N.D.I.A Alliance. If the name of some parties becomes India, will they change the name of the country? The country belongs to 140 crore people, not to a few parties," Kejriwal said.

India का नाम बदलकर Bharat क्यों किया जा रहा हैं?

कहा जा रहा है कि INDIA Alliance के नाम की वजह से। अगर कुछ पार्टियों का नाम India हो जाता है तो वो देश का नाम बदल देंगे? देश तो 140 करोड़ लोगों का है, कुछ पार्टियों को थोड़ी ना है।

मान लीजिए Alliance का नाम बदलकर कल Bharat हो गया,… pic.twitter.com/YK5NNSSg6F

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 5, 2023

"If the name of alliance is changed to Bharat tomorrow, then will Bharat also be changed? Then will they name Bharat as BJP? This is betrayal to the nation," Kejriwal further said.

The controversy over the name of the country is likely to continue, and it remains to be seen whether the Centre will go ahead with the amendment.