Amidst the ongoing debate concerning the preference for 'India' or 'Bharat,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the G20 Summit on Saturday, September 9, with the tag 'Bharat' prominently featured before his name.

The discourse regarding a potential name alteration for the nation has gained momentum recently, triggered by the unconventional language used on G20 dinner invitations from Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rather than the customary 'President of India' in official English communications, these invitations bore the title 'President of Bharat.'

This controversy has deepened, and Modi's speech at the G20 Summit seems to have added fuel to speculations that the government might endorse a singular official name for the country, 'Bharat,' instead of 'India.'

This is not a new debate, as it was extensively deliberated upon by the Constituent Assembly of India in 1949, culminating in the inclusion of Article 1 in the Constitution, which stated, 'India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States.'

However, Opposition parties contend, with some validity, that the government's renewed emphasis on 'Bharat' over 'India' is linked to the acronym of their coalition, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, commonly referred to as INDIA.

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the name change debate during a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, suggesting that it appeared to be a diversionary tactic and a reaction to India's increasing popularity. He characterized the notion of altering the country's name as "absurd" and expressed contentment with the names already established in the Constitution.

Rahul Gandhi expressed his contentment with the names specified in our Constitution. 'India, that is, Bharat' suits me perfectly. These appear to be impulsive reactions driven by government anxiety, intended to distract."

He went on to commend the choice of 'INDIA' by Opposition parties as a fitting representation of their identity, asserting that they represent the voice of India.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments during a public address in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, on the eve of the G20 Summit. He stressed that for the 2024 general elections to the Lok Sabha, the Opposition had united under the banner of 'INDIA.' Nevertheless, he acknowledged that this choice had unsettled members of the BJP, leading to calls for the country to be officially named 'Bharat,' a term Kharge claims is already enshrined in the Constitution.

While some leaders within the ruling BJP government appreciate the cultural significance associated with the term 'Bharat,' the official party stance maintains that both 'India' and 'Bharat' are recognized names for the nation in accordance with the Constitution.

Advocates of 'Bharat' argue that this shift aligns with various name changes observed in roads, cities, buildings, institutions, and even laws during this administration, emphasizing that 'Bharat Mandapam' had been renamed well in advance of the G20 Summit.