BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Harnath Singh Yadav has demanded that the country's name should be changed from India to Bharat.
Harnath Singh Yadav said that the word 'India' was used by the Britishers as a curse.
Recently, the Opposition named its alliance I.N.D.I.A. which comprises of around 28 parties as they plan to take on BJP-NDA in the next year's Lok Sabha elections.
"The entire country is demanding that we should use the word 'Bharat' instead of 'India'... The word 'India' is an abuse given to us by the British whereas the word 'Bharat' is a symbol of our culture... I want there should be a change in our Constitution and the word 'Bharat' should be added to it...," said BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav.
Meanwhile, in another development, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed that a Rashtrapati Bhavan G20 invitation mentioned 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India'. This development sparked a debate as several other leaders have reacted.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked a "flustered" BJP whether it would change the name of Bharat if the opposition alliance INDIA rechristens itself Bharat.
"There is no official information about it but I have heard rumours. Why is this happening? Some parties have come together to form the INDIA bloc. If INDIA alliance changes its name to Bharat, will they rename Bharat?" Kejriwal said at a press conference.
"This is treason."
Kejriwal said the BJP was so disturbed by the opposition alliance that when it was first announced it tried to divert people's attention from it with its 'One nation, One election' proposal.
On another controversy DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered with his remarks on Sanatan Dharma, Kejriwal said people must respect all religions.
"I am from Sanatan Dharma. Many of you also belong to Sanatan Dharma. We should respect each others' religion and not speak wrong against it," he said.
With inputs from PTI
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