Narendra Modi hinted at changing the country's name to "Bharat" at the G20 summit

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Right-wing politicians consider the word “India” to be a relic of the colonial era, and the true name of the republic, from their point of view, should be the word “Bharat”.

Narendra Modi hinted at changing the country's name to "Bharat" at the G20 summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his country's symbol with the words "Bharat" instead of "India" at the first session of the G20 summit, which opened in New Delhi. It is reported by RIA Novosti.

According to the Indian Constitution, both words are the official names of the republic, but the first is used in Hindi and usually for local audiences, and the second is used in English and for foreign audiences.

Meanwhile, a number of local publications, citing sources, report that the issue of the official name of the state on international platforms may be considered at an extraordinary session of the country’s parliament, which is scheduled for September 18-21.

This is not the first time that controversy has arisen in India over the country's name. As a rule, the initiators of discussions are supporters of nationalist ideas. Right-wing politicians consider the word “India” to be a relic of the colonial era, and the true name of the republic, from their point of view, should be the word “Bharat”.

Earlier, Indian President Draupadi Murmu used the term “President of Bharat” rather than “President of India” for the first time in dinner invitations at the G20 summit, written in English.

Several Indian media outlets later reported that the Indian government may propose to officially change the country's English name to Bharat and bring the issue to an extraordinary session of Parliament.

The Indian President's decision to use the country's name in Hindi in official invitations, as well as the change in the country's name, has angered opposition parties, many of whom have recently formed a coalition to fight the 2024 elections, the N.D.I.A. (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance). At the same time, Modi himself, on the eve of the summit, called on the authorities to refrain from debates about the possibility of renaming India to Bharat.

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