SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that India and Bharat are both registered names in the constitution of India and it should be an individual prerogative to use either of the two.
He said that the Union government can use ‘Bharat’, but the name India should not be erased from the Constitution of the country as several institutions in the country use the word India in their names. “ How many names will you change? Will you change the names of the State Bank of India, IIT, and IIM? If you will see the plane of the Prime minister in which he went to Indonesia, you will find both the names written on it,” Omar said.
Omar suggested that the union government should not change the name India to Bharat just because the alliance has named itself INDIA. “If the move is linked to the Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A, then we will change our name. We don’t want to increase the country’s expenditure; we are here to reduce it.”
Abdullah’s statement has come in response to Rashtrapati Bhawan sending out invites for a G20 dinner on September 9 in the name of ‘President of Bharat’ instead of the ‘President of India.’
Regarding the One Nation, One Election proposal Omar Abdullah said that the five-day special session of Parliament might have a discussion on One Nation One Election. “We have no issues with it as long as it is not used as a weapon against regional parties. If they intend to erase regional political parties then we will resist the move.”
On allocation of Plough symbol to NC in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) polls by the Supreme Court, Omar said, “I am thankful to SC for delivering justice. I also extend my greetings to Advocate Shariq Riyaz and his associated team of lawyers who fought our case initially at High Court J&K and later in the Supreme Court.”
