New York: Amid a row over President Droupadi Murmu's G20 dinner invites referring to her as 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India', a top United Nations (UN) official has said the UN considers requests from countries to change their names as and when it receive them.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that last year Turkey changed its name to Turkiye.
Haq said in the case of Turkiye, the UN responded to a formal request delivered to them by the government.
"Obviously, if we get requests like that, we consider them as they come," he said in response to a question on reports that India's name could be changed to Bharat.
A row erupted on Tuesday after invitations for a G20 dinner were sent out by President Murmu, describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', with the opposition accusing the Narendra Modi government of planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name.
The G20 Summit is being held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 under India's presidency and several heads of state from across the world, including US President Joe Biden, are attending the event.
Bharat also used in a G20 booklet
"Bharat" has also been used in a G20 booklet meant for foreign delegates titled - "Bharat, The Mother Of Democracy".
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also shared a document on the PM's visit to Indonesia that referred to him as the "Prime Minister of Bharat." The identity cards of Indian officials at the G20 Summit on September 9 and 10 will also now say 'Bharat - Official'.
Sources say the government may put forward a resolution to change the country's name later this month in the five-day special session of parliament that starts on September 18. The fact that the government has not announced any agenda for the special session has only added to the speculation.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said no one has the right to change the country's name.
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