Will India be renamed Bharat? PM Modi's nameplate at G20 Summit sends a strong message

PTC News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered the opening address at the G20 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Interestingly, the PM Modi's nameplate read 'Bharat' instead of India.

This comes only days after a massive uproar erupted over the change from Bharat to India in President Droupadi Murmu's dinner invitation to foreign leaders attending the G20 Summit this weekend.

This has also fueled speculation that the special session of Parliament scheduled for later this month is intended to formalize the push to rename India Bharat.

"Bharat" was also used in a G20 booklet titled "Bharat, The Mother Of Democracy" for foreign delegations. "Bharat is the official name of the country. It is mentioned in the Constitution as also in the discussions of 1946-48," the booklet said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations stated on Friday that it will change India's name to Bharat in UN records after New Delhi has completed all necessary procedures, according to a spokesperson for the global body.

"When India completes the formalities to change the name, they will inform us and we will change the name at the UN (records)," UN Secretary General's chief spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, NDTV reported.