In a strongly-worded statement, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has voiced his condemnation of the alleged efforts by the Union Government to rename India as ‘Bharat.’ Vijayan contends that such actions constitute a perilous assault on the nation’s cultural and constitutional fabric.
Taking to Facebook, Vijayan called for a unified stand against what he views as a divisive political maneuver. He emphasized that stripping the word ‘India’ from the country’s name contradicts both the Constitution and the core principles upon which the nation was founded. The Constitution’s inaugural Article distinctly defines India as ‘India, that is Bharat,’ while the preamble proudly proclaims ‘We, the people of India.’
Vijayan also pointed to an invitation letter for the G20 summit, which referred to the ‘President of Bharat’ rather than the ‘President of India,’ as an ominous precursor to potential constitutional amendments. He firmly believes that this alteration defies the essence of the Constitution.
The Kerala CM urged citizens to scrutinize this endeavor closely, highlighting concerns that it could erode even the national sentiment ingrained in the phrase ‘India is my country; all Indians are my brothers and sisters,’ taught in schools across the nation.
Vijayan concluded by asserting that no political move should be permitted to undermine the country’s democratic and constitutional foundations, firmly calling on the Union Government to abandon its quest to alter the nation’s name.
This development underscores a broader debate concerning the country’s identity and constitutional principles, with the Kerala Chief Minister firmly advocating for the preservation of India’s historical name.
