Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said: India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had rejected the proposal to make the party’s official flag the national flag, but “BJP will not lose any opportunity to promote yourself without shame”.
More than 70 years ago, Nehru rejected the proposal to make the Congress flag the flag of India. Now BJP’s election symbol has become the official logo of India’s G20 presidency! Although surprising, we already know that Mr.Modi and BJP will not miss any opportunity to promote themselves shamelessly!
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 9, 2022
The attack by the opposition party came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the logo, theme and website for the upcoming chairmanship of the Indian grouping.
Reacting to the criticism, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla pointed out that Goddess Lakshmi is also seated on a lotus flower. “Will you remove Kamal from Kamal Nath’s name? Rajiv (Gandhi) also means Kamal. I hope you don’t see any agenda in it,” Poonawalla said.
The lotus is our national flower! It also happens to be the aasan of Maa Lakshmi – do you object to our national flower? Will you remove Kamal from the name Kamal Nath?
By the way Rajiv also means Kamal! I hope you don’t see an agenda!!! pic.twitter.com/Y62kiHkjxR
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) November 9, 2022
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also hit back at the Congress leader saying: The lotus was declared the national flower in 1950 by the then Congress government and Ramesh was born in 1954.
“Only God knows why the Congress party chooses to denigrate and undermine all national symbols even as it is desperately bent on ‘jodo’ (uniting),” Puri said.
The minister added that Congress leaders should listen carefully to Modi on why the lotus is part of the G20 logo.
“It symbolizes the ancient heritage, faith and thought of India, a symbol of hope in such difficult times. Lord Buddha’s message for freedom from war, Mahatma Gandhi’s solutions to violence,” Puri said along with a video of similar comments by PM Modi.
Congressional leaders should listen carefully #PMModi Ji en why Lotus is a part #G20 logo
It symbolizes the ancient heritage, faith and thought of India, a symbol of hope in such difficult times. Lord Buddha’s message for freedom from war, Mahatma Gandhi’s solutions to violence. pic.twitter.com/MOqsShRbtS— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 9, 2022
Prime Minister Modi unveiled India’s G20 chairmanship logo
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday unveiled the logo and theme – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumba-kam’ or ‘One Earth One Family One Future’ – and the website of India’s G20 chairmanship.
In his virtual speech, Prime Minister Modi said: Congratulations to fellow countrymen on the historic occasion of India’s G20 chairmanship. “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” is the signature of India’s compassion for the world. Lotus portrays India’s cultural heritage and faith to unite the world.
“The lotus symbol in the G20 logo is a representation of hope in these times. No matter how adverse the circumstances, the lotus still blooms,” he said.
India will take over the chairmanship of the G20 from current chairman Indonesia on December 1.
The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85% of world GDP, more than 75% of world trade and approximately two-thirds of the world’s population.
