Kolkata: In a statement that has stirred controversy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, announced that India would be renamed as Bharat, and those who oppose the name change are free to leave the country. Ghosh, who is also the Medinipur MP, further declared that statues of foreigners in Kolkata would be removed. Addressing a 'Chai pe Charcha' program in Kharagpur city, the former Bengal BJP chief stated, "When our party comes to power in West Bengal, we will remove all statues of foreigners in Kolkata. India will be renamed as Bharat. Those not liking it are free to leave the country."
Another senior BJP leader from the state, Rahul Sinha, supported the renaming, arguing that a country cannot have two names. He believed that this was an opportune moment for the change, especially with world leaders present in New Delhi for the G20 summit. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Santanu Sen accused the BJP of attempting to divert attention from real issues due to its fear of the opposition INDIA alliance. Opposition parties, led by the Congress, have formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to challenge the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The controversy arose when President Droupadi Murmu's G20 dinner invitations referred to her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India.' This discrepancy ignited a political storm in the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi advising ministers to refrain from commenting on the matter. While the opposition contended that the BJP's move was a sign of its apprehension regarding the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, the ruling party argued that using the name Bharat was in accordance with the Constitution.
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