NEW DELHI: In a recent update, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has launched a scathing critique against the Central government, pointing out a peculiar detail on the invitations for a G20 summit dinner hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. According to Ramesh, these invitations deviated from the conventional norm of bearing the title 'President of India' and instead featured the term 'President of Bharat.'
Ramesh took to social media, specifically X (formerly known as Twitter), to express his concern, stating, "So, the news is indeed true. Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on September 9th in the name of 'President of Bharat' instead of the usual 'President of India.'"
In a subtle dig at the ruling BJP-led Union government, Ramesh continued, "Now, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: 'Bharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.' But now, even this 'Union of States' is under assault."
It's worth noting that Article 1 of the Indian Constitution begins with the phrase, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."
While Jairam Ramesh expressed his discontent with the usage of 'President of Bharat' on the government-issued invitation cards, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a step further by referring to India as the "Republic of Bharat" in a post on X. This proclamation followed shortly after Ramesh's criticism.
The G20 Leaders' Summit for the year 2023 is scheduled to take place from September 9th to 10th at the Bharat Mandapam, situated in the international convention and exhibition center at Pragati Maidan. India currently holds the G20 presidency.