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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
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India or Bharat: What’s behind the dispute over the country’s name?

Bharat India Bharatiya Janata Party Narendra Modi Rasheed Kidwai Slavery
Cricket fans display an Indian flag with 'Bharat' written on it during a match between India and South Africa in London [File: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP]

Controversy has gripped India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government referred to the country as Bharat on official invitations, leaving many wondering whether the name will be changed.

In dinner invitations sent on Tuesday to guests attending this week’s Group of 20 (G20) summit, Droupadi Murmu is referred to as “President of Bharat” instead of the usual “President of India”.

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