‘Bharat’ all the way in PM Modi’s speech at opening of ‘Bharat Mandapam’ | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid special emphasis on Bharat in his speech at the opening of revamped International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex here, perhaps setting the stage for NDA’s electoral battle with opposition’s ‘INDIA’ in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due next year.

With the revamped International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex renamed “Bharat Mandapam“, it was Bharat all the way through in PM Modi‘s speech.
In his speech, PM Modi spoke of the great heights Bharat had achieved during his tenure of last 9 years. PM Modi spoke of Bharat’s Vikas Yatra under his government and said “In the third term of my government, Bharat will be in the list of top three economies of the world.”

He spoke of “Viksit Bharat”, “Samridh Bharat” “Bharat ka infrastructure” and promised to take Bharat to the heights which the freedom fighter had dreamt of.
“We will put Nation first and citizen first and make Bharat a “Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi said.
With the opposition parties calling its alliance INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) – the BJP and its ministers have been targeting the opposition’s new nomenclature.
On Tuesday, PM Modi had derided the opposition’s attempt to use the name INDIA and cited the example of terror organisations like Indian Mujahideen also using ‘India’ in their names . Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had responded sharply to PM Modi’s attack and said “Call us whatever you want Mr Modi, we are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.”
Several Union ministers have also targeted the opposition’s move to name its alliance as INDIA.
After the opposition’s move, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma removed India from his Twitter bio and replaced it with Bharat.
Sarma wrote: “Our civilisational conflict is pivoted around India and Bharat. The British named our country as India. We must strive to free ourselves from colonial legacies. Our forefathers fought for Bharat, and we will continue to work for Bharat.” He further said: “BJP for BHARAT.”