NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, India's External Affairs Minister, Mr. S Jaishankar, mentioned that the word "Bharat" is written in our country's rule book, called the Constitution. This caused a bit of a fuss because some people were arguing about whether we should use "Bharat" instead of "India."

In our Constitution, the term "India that is Bharat" finds mention, affirmed External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, as he weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the use of the name "Bharat" for India. During his interview, Minister Jaishankar expressed  various key points, ranging from the transformation of the G20 Summit into a people-driven initiative to China's involvement in the expansive two-day event.

Bharat's Presence in the Constitution:
The Constitution of India incorporates the term "India, that is Bharat." I extend an invitation to all to peruse it. When we mention "Bharat," it carries a certain significance, interpretation, and implication, all of which, I believe, are reflected in our Constitution.

Democratizing the G20 Summit:

The G20 Summit has evolved into a movement that engages the populace. It embodies the mindset of the Prime Minister, the BJP, and the government—a mindset that leans towards democracy. We believe that the G20 should not be governed by a select few in a single city. Instead, it should be "by me, for me, and about me," which is how it appeared to function in the past. The objective is to democratize the G20, foster greater participation, and imbue different cities, states, professions, and generations with a sense of involvement and ownership.

Successful State Visit to the US by PM:

Regarding the agenda of the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, Jaishankar highlighted the immensely successful state visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States. The visit yielded significant outcomes and results, and both the Indian and American systems are actively working to implement the agreements reached in June this year. This provides an opportunity for our leaders to assess progress.

Focus on the Global South:

Past G20 summits lacked an initiative to gather developing countries that were not at the table and address their concerns within the G20 framework. However, India has extended an invitation to these nations to participate in the Summit. The central theme this time is the Global South. The G20 faces a blend of structural, long-term issues and emerging challenges, with the Global South and developing nations carrying the bulk of the burden. Therefore, the emphasis must be on the Global South. Additionally, the current global landscape is fraught with turbulence due to challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, debt crises, and climate change. Some of these issues also impact the global economy.

Previous Absences of World Leaders:

Jaishankar briefly touched upon the absence of China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, emphasizing that this is not an unprecedented occurrence. Throughout various G20 meetings, different leaders, for various reasons, have chosen not to attend personally. However, the country's position is adequately represented by its designated representative on such occasions. Jaishankar asserted that all attendees approach the Summit with a high degree of seriousness.

Opposition Critique:
Addressing criticisms from the opposition regarding the extensive preparations preceding the G20 Summit, Minister Jaishankar defended the government's approach. He acknowledged that some may feel most comfortable in the surroundings of Lutyens' Delhi or Vigyan Bhawan, and that is entirely their prerogative. He highlighted the government's unique vision, emphasizing that the G20 should be viewed as a national endeavor, fostering a sense of participation across different regions of India. This approach, he stressed, has been genuinely non-partisan.

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