The special session of Parliament is set to begin on September 18. There are rumors that a bill may be introduced to rename India as Bharat, in an effort to make it a Hindutva rashtra. The Congress party and its group of 28 parties known as I.N.D.I.A believe that such a bill could be introduced during the session.
Jairam Ramesh, a leader of the Congress party, pointed out that the invitation card issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan referred to Bharat instead of India, which he believes is an indication of the Hindutva Rashtra agenda. However, it is surprising that even senior leaders are ignoring what the Indian Constitution says.
Article 1 of the Constitution states that India, which is also known as Bharat, is a Union of States. This has sparked a war of words for political purposes. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took it a step further and proclaimed India as the “Republic of Bharat” on social media.
The opposition is calling for an amendment to the Constitution to replace India with Bharat, in an effort to shed remnants of colonial rule and embrace the nation’s indigenous heritage. BJP MPs Naresh Bansal and Harnath Singh Yadav have also voiced their support for this change, arguing that the word “India” symbolizes colonial slavery.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has also emphasized that the country has been known as Bharat for centuries. The RSS even points out that our national anthem includes the words “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.”
In summary, there is speculation that a bill may be introduced during the special session of Parliament to rename India as Bharat. This move is driven by a desire to shed remnants of colonial rule and embrace the nation’s indigenous heritage. Various political leaders and organizations have expressed their support for this change.
