BJP harming India's pluralism and cohesion: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday attacked the BJP over the India vs Bharat ruckus, saying the saffron party was harmful to India's pluralism. He warned that the country's social, political and economic cohesion was at risk with the BJP at its helm.

"There is a plan to destroy India's pluralistic culture of thousands of years. They are giving catchy words and slogans for this," he said.

The CM was speaking at a programme in Bengaluru to felicitate Congress working committee member Nasir Hussain. The Rajya Sabha MP, he said, was presenting the party's ideology, principles and ideology in parliament. "It is this pluralism, which is the lifeline of Indian culture," he said. India's pluralism and constitution, he added, were only safe in the hands of the Congress.


Siddaramaiah attacked the BJP accusing it of "playing a drama" by trying to change the name of the country. "BJP, which named its programmes like Make in India, Skill India, Start Up India, is now shocked by the name "INDIA," and is going to say the name of the country is "Bharat." We are the ones who ran for Bharat Jodo," he said.

The India vs Bharat controversy began with a G20 invite issued in the name of ‘President of Bharat.’ Opposition parties have raised a ruckus, alleging that the Centre is trying to change the name of the country.

BJP-led states however have welcomed the speculation, with leaders like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma saying this was a sign the country was moving towards Amrit Kaal. BJP MP Naresh Bansal, who had pitched the proposal in the monsoon session of Parliament, called the name ‘India’ a symbol of colonial slavery. The British changed Bharat's name to India…The name should be removed from the Constitution,” he said.