New Delhi: Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a notable change to his Twitter bio late Tuesday, replacing “India” with “Bharat” — becoming the first BJP leader to alter his social media handle following the rebranding of UPA to I.N.D.I.A.
In a tweet, Sarma explained his decision, stating, “The British named our country India. We must strive to free ourselves from colonial legacies. Our forefathers fought for Bharat, and we will continue to work for Bharat.”
Our civilisational conflict is pivoted around India and Bharat.The British named our country as India. We must strive to free ourselves from colonial legacies. Our forefathers fought for Bharat, and we will continue to work for Bharat .
BJP for BHARAT
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 18, 2023
This move came after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Indian National Congress, rebranded its identity as ‘INDIA’ — an acronym for ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ — during a meeting of 26 opposition parties in Bengaluru.
Taking a swipe at the rebranding, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised it as a coalition based on “compulsion of power,” “corruption,” and “dynastic politics,” which he believes is harmful to the nation.
Simultaneously, during an NDA meeting of 38 political parties in Bengaluru, Modi redefined the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) as “New India, Developed Nation, and the Aspiration of People and Region.”
Criticism over Sarma’s ‘Bharat’ move
Sarma’s action was met with opposition from other political leaders.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed his dissent on Twitter, suggesting that Himanta Biswa Sarma’s decision might be motivated by a desire to align with Modi, who had already introduced new names for ongoing programs like “Skill India, Start-up India, and Digital India”.
“Is the Assam CM having a surplus of sour grapes in his mouth? His new mentor, Mr. Modi, gave us Skill India, Start-up India and Digital India—all new names for ongoing programmes. He’s asked CMs of different states to work together as ‘Team India’. He even made an appeal to Vote India!,” Ramesh wrote in his tweet.
The AICC general secretary in charge of communication further told Sharma that he “should go tell that to his Boss”.
Is the Assam CM having a surplus of sour grapes in his mouth? His new mentor, Mr. Modi, gave us Skill India, Start-up India and Digital India—all new names for ongoing programmes. He’s asked CMs of different states to work together as ‘Team India’. He even made an appeal to Vote… pic.twitter.com/YYCeDcWMui
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 19, 2023
“But when 26 political parties call their formation INDIA (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance), he throws a fit and says use of India reflects ‘colonial mentality’! He should go tell that to his Boss,” he stated.
Another Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tewari said that there is no civilisational conflict within India and referred to Article 1 of the Constitution, which states that “Bharat or India is a Union of States”.
There is no civilisational conflict in India. Samuel Huntington & his Clash of Civilisations is a myth that even herculean efforts to validate would be an exercise in futility.
Article 1 of Const encapsulates that spirit India that is Bharat is a Union of States. @himantabiswa https://t.co/85FaEjwC55
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) July 18, 2023
#INDIAversusBharat or #IndiaVsModi
The controversy surrounding #IndiavsModi and #IndiaversusBharat hashtags erupted on Twitter, sparking a heated social media debate. The Assam CM, however, has yet not changed his Instagram bio.
The India versus Bharat narrative has now set the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the Congress party has dismissed this narrative, adopting the alliance’s tagline as “Judega Bharat, Jeetega India,” after former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray emphasised the use of a Hindi tagline.
Also read: The idea of ‘INDIA’ — how opposition parties picked alliance name at dinner hosted by Siddaramaiah