He said, “We chant Bharat Mata, not Bharat Mata. Ours is the only country in the whole world, whose people consider the country not a piece of land, but a mother. That is why it should be called India.”
The controversy began today with news that President Draupadi Murmu’s invitation letter to G-20 leaders introduced her as “President of India” instead of the traditional “President of India”. At the same time, the G-20 brochure given to foreign delegates added fuel to the fire. The booklet is titled, “India, Mother of Democracy”. It mentions, “India is the official name of the country. It is also mentioned in the Constitution and debates of 1946-48.”
The government is yet to come up with an agenda for the five-day special session of Parliament starting on September 18, fueling speculation. Along with BJP leaders, many celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Virender Sehwag have praised ‘Bharat’ on social media. The opposition has criticized the government regarding this.
The Congress has asked the government to release the agenda of the special session and accused it of keeping the country in the dark. The opposition alleges that this is the government’s reaction to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Asked about the upcoming elections in the state, Joshi claimed that the BJP will win in record numbers. The party is yet to field a chief ministerial candidate, which has been criticized by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Earlier speaking to NDTV in the same program, Gehlot had said that the Narendra Modi factor will not work in the assembly elections. The Chief Minister said that like “Modi vs Who” at the Centre, it is a question of “Gehlot vs Who” in Rajasthan. “They (BJP) are looking for an answer,” the chief minister said.
Joshi told NDTV that as always, the BJP’s face will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the lotus flower, the party’s election symbol.
He said, “This parliamentary board will decide who will be the chief minister. As far as the face in the election is concerned, our face is PM Modi and the lotus flower.”
Also read:
* “Gehlot sat for four-and-a-half years, works when elections come…”: At the launch of NDTV Rajasthan channel, BJP state president C.P. Joshi
* Kamal and Modi are BJP’s face in Rajasthan elections – CP Joshi
* “BJP should know from whom it sprang…” : CM Ashok Gehlot at the launch of NDTV Rajasthan channel