'If we get requests like that, we consider them as they come': UN spokesperson on 'Bharat' row

United Nations, September 7

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The United Nations considers requests from countries to change their names as and when the world body receives them, a top UN official has said, amid a row over President Droupadi Murmu’s G20 dinner invite referring to her as ‘President of Bharat’ instead of ‘President of India’.

Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Farhan Haq on Wednesday cited the example of Turkey changing its name to Turkiye last year.

“Well, in the case of Turkiye, we responded to a formal request delivered to us 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 in India 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.