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Rahul Gandhi, a member of Congress, had a cheeky comment to make about the government’s talk of changing India’s name to Bharat. During an event in France, he was asked if there was any point or value in this proposed change.
With a playful grin, Rahul Gandhi seemed to downplay the whole name-changing discussion. He coolly remarked that both names, India and Bharat, were “perfectly acceptable” as per the Constitution. He even pointed out, “Well, the Constitution actually uses both names, right? The line in the Constitution, which I began with, is ‘India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States’. So I don’t really see a problem. Both are perfectly acceptable.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: He paused for a moment, still with that mischievous smile, and added, “But, I think, maybe we irritated the government a little because we named our coalition INDIA, and that got them all heated up. And now they’ve decided to change the name of the country.”
It’s like a friendly dig with a touch of humour, don’t you think? Rahul Gandhi surely knows how to keep things light and interesting.
Rahul Gandhi continued with a chuckle, “I mean, you know how these things are… I mean, we could always give our coalition a second name as well… (but) I don’t think it will solve the purpose. But people act in strange ways!” It seems he’s having a bit of fun with the whole situation, suggesting that people sometimes do unexpected things.
In a light-hearted moment, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took a witty jab at the government’s speculated plan to change India’s name to Bharat. During an event in France, he was asked about the significance of such a name change.
With a playful grin, Rahul Gandhi calmly downplayed the discussion, emphasizing that both names, India and Bharat, were “perfectly acceptable” according to the Constitution. He even humorously noted that they could consider giving their coalition a second name, but he didn’t believe it would serve any purpose. He quipped, “But people act in strange ways!”
Then, turning the question around, he asked, “What do you think about it?” It was a clever way to engage the audience in the conversation.
In a graphic shared by the Congress, Mr Gandhi, speaking at Sciences PO University in Paris, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the voices of all people in the states are heard clearly, without any suppression or intimidation.
India vs. Bharat Debate
A storm brewed when G20 invitations referred to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘President of Bharat’ instead of India. ‘Bharat’ and the reference to it as the “mother of democracy” cropped up in other summit promotional material too.
This change stirred strong opposition, especially as it followed closely after the formation of INDIA – an opposition alliance gaining momentum ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
INDIA members accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “distorting history and dividing India.” Some even poked fun at the government; Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal humorously asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would change its name to ‘BJP’ if INDIA renamed itself BHARAT.
In response, Rahul Gandhi, with a touch of wit, hinted at the ongoing political tussle. He reminded everyone that the real battle was between the NDA (the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance) and INDIA, adding, “You know who wins when you stand against India.” It was a subtle jab that played on the nationalist platform that the BJP has often embraced.
I.N.D.I.A vs. India vs Bharat
The opposition’s choice of naming itself INDIA, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, didn’t sit well with the Prime Minister. He seemed visibly upset, going as far as to call them “Ghamandiya,” which translates to ‘arrogant’ in Hindi. He also accused the Congress of changing its name “to hide how they schemed against the poor.”
On the other hand, senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma had a suggestion for Rahul Gandhi. Accusing him of “working to break the country,” the Assam Chief Minister recommended that he “give away (the) Gandhi title.” It was a fiery exchange of words in the political arena.
