India to be named 'Bharat'? Presidential invite for G20 dinner triggers row

Ahead of the summit, the G20 dinner invite to delegates written 'President of Bharat', instead of 'President of India' has sparked another row. Opposition parties of INDIA alliance criticised the BJP-led government for continuing to distort history.

Reacting to the invite, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the “union of states is under assault”.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that "Modi can 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'," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

With the special session of the Parliament to be held on September 18, the ‘Bharat’ row is set to pick up pace. Reportedly, the Centre may bring up a resolution to rename India as ‘Bharat’.

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that there was no need for a change in the name India. "In our Constitution, it is incorporated that 'Constitution of India'. India is an accepted word for the country making it 'Bharat', I don't think is required."

Generally, three paraliamentary sessions are held in a year--Budget, Monsoon and Winter sessions.

Sources had said the "special session", without question hour, could see parliamentary operations being shifted to the new Parliament building which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.