Gorakhpur Municipal Shift: Embracing ‘Bharat’ Over ‘India’ on Letterhead
Image credit: Telangana Today
Gorakhpur Municipal Body Contemplates Shift from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ on Official Letterhead
Gorakhpur: In a significant move, the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (GMC) executive committee is considering replacing the term ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ on its official letterhead. Gorakhpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, could become the first municipal body in Uttar Pradesh to adopt ‘Bharat’ if the proposal gains approval.
Gorakhpur Mayor, Manglesh Srivastav, revealed that the proposal would be presented to the GMC board during its upcoming meeting for further discussion. He emphasized that the name ‘Bharat’ has historical roots, dating back to ancient times, while ‘India’ was introduced by British rulers.
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“The time has come to remove the symbol of colonial slavery,” Mayor Srivastav stated.
Ajay Rai, a BJP corporator, mentioned unanimous agreement among members regarding the proposal. Mannu Jaiswal, another BJP corporator, pointed out that the call for using ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ was raised by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2014 during his tenure as Gorakhpur MP.
Ziaul Islam, a Samajwadi Party corporator, expressed no objection, citing the constitutional provision that recognizes both terms as per “India that is Bharat.”
This move follows a broader national debate earlier this year when the G20 dinner invitations referred to President Draupadi Murmu as the “President of Bharat” instead of the usual “President of India.” Moreover, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inaugural address at the G20 Summit, the nameplate displayed “Bharat” instead of “India.
As the discussion around ‘India’ versus ‘Bharat’ gains momentum, Prime Minister Modi had previously urged his ministerial colleagues to steer clear of the political row, highlighting that ‘Bharat’ is the country’s ancient name. The outcome of the GMC’s decision is eagerly awaited, as it could set a precedent for other municipalities in the state.
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