'India' replaced with 'Bharat' in dinner invitation to G20 guests, opposition slams Modi government

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has replaced the name India with a Sanskrit word in dinner invitations sent to guests attending this week's Group of 20 summit, in a move that reflects his party’s efforts to eliminate what it sees as colonial-era names.

Indian President Droupadi Murmu is referred to as "President of Bharat” instead of "President of India” in the invitation sent to G20 attendees.

The nation of more than 1.4 billion people is officially known by two names, India and Bharat, but the former is most commonly used, both domestically and internationally.

The change in nomenclature is backed by officials of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They argue that the name India was introduced by British colonials and is a "symbol of slavery.”

"Another blow to slavery mentality,” the top elected official of Uttarakhand state, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dhami, who is a leader of Modi's governing party, shared the dinner invitation sent to G20 guests in his post.

India’s opposition parties, however, criticized the move.

"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,” opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said on X.

Tharoor said Indians should "continue to use both words rather than relinquish our claim to a name redolent of history, a name that is recognized around the world.”

Congress said that now even this ‘Union of States’ is under assault.

The party also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States but we will not be deterred.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a series of tweets on X said: "So the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9 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’. But now even this ‘Union of States’ is under assault.”

In another tweet, Ramesh said: "Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States.But we will not be deterred. "After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties?It is Bharat-Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega Bharat, Jeetega INDIA.”

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C Venugopal in a tweet said, "The BJP's destructive mind can only think of how to divide people. Once again, they are creating a rift between Indians and Bharatiyas. Let's be clear - we are the same! As Article 1 says - India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States. This is petty politics because they are scared of INDIA. Try what you will, Modi ji. Judega Bharat, Jeetega INDIA.”

Disputes over "India” versus "Bharat” have gained ground since opposition parties in July announced a new alliance - called INDIA - to unseat Modi and defeat his party ahead of national elections in 2024. The acronym stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

Since then, some officials in Modi’s party have demanded that the country be called Bharat instead of India.