PM Modi's nameplate identifies him as leader of 'Bharat' at G20 Summit

In the midst of rising speculation of a name change from India to Bharat, the government sought to send out a clear message by putting the name “Bharat” centrestage. 

During the G20 Summit’s inaugural address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nameplate read 'Bharat' instead of 'India'. Nameplates at these events have usually gone with 'India'. 

This move comes after President Droupadi Murmu’s invitations for the G20 Summit dinner Saturday night read ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’, leading to speculations and criticisms. 

Images and videos of Modi’s inaugural speech at the Summit soon went viral on social media. “India's G20 Presidency has become a symbol of 'Sabka Saath' inside and outside of the country. This has become the people's G20 in India and over 200 meetings were held across the country,” the PM said during his speech.

Apart from Modi’s nameplate, plaques and signages leading to the Summit venue – rechristened earlier this year as Bharat Mandapa –  all carried the word ‘Bharat’. Several G20 documents, too, carried the word ‘Bharat’. 

While the RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent, has long identified India as Bharat, Opposition parties claimed that the sudden decision was to combat the naming of the Opposition bloc as I.N.D.I.A, or Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.