On March 11, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared some thoughts on the country’s name. He mentioned that India is known by three names: Bharat, India, and Hindustan. He believes that people should feel free to use whichever name they prefer.
His comments came in response to remarks made by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who stated that the country should solely be referred to as Bharat. Abdullah pointed out that both Bharat and India appear in official titles, like the “Constitution of India” and the “Reserve Bank of India.” He asked why there is an insistence on only using one name.
He added that both names are present on the Prime Minister’s plane and that we refer to the military as the Indian Air Force and Indian Army. Abdullah also quoted the patriotic song “Sare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara,” emphasizing that people can choose to refer to the nation in a way that feels right to them.
When asked about a statement from the Muslim Personal Law Board, he said he couldn’t comment without more information. Abdullah also discussed recent disruptions in the Assembly, mentioning that a committee is working on regularizing the jobs of daily wage workers. He has set a six-month deadline for this process.
Regarding the opposition’s criticism of his budget comments, he remarked that criticism is part of their role. He described the budget as a “love letter” to all voters, acknowledging supporters from multiple parties, not just the BJP. Abdullah expressed confidence in the budget’s intentions and commitment to supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the next five years.
