On his India vs Bharat criticism, Virender Sehwag claims 'unfortunately many feel insecure of word Bharat'

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As he faced criticism over social media from some quarters for suggesting the nation should get back to using 'Bharat' instead of 'India' as the official name, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag on Wednesday (September 6) issued a detailed statement.

Sehwag, the 45-year-old former Delhi batter, had backed the idea of returning to Bharat from its English name 'Bharat' and even requested the BCCI to carry 'Bharat' on the jersey of the Indian national cricket teams.

The Nawab of Najafgarh in his social media post also shared a newspaper clipping in which the Congress party - which is now in the opposition - had at the time of the formation of the Constitution of India proposed the adoption of the country's name as 'Bharat' as well.

The former cricketer - who has brought several laurels to the nation with his performance on the cricket pitch - even claimed that advocating the use of 'Bharat' as the country's name should not be seen as a political agenda.

Sehwag was slammed on social media for backing the idea of rechristening the nation as 'Bharat' with one of the users asked him why he played a sport which was introduced to the Indians and also the world by the British.

In his post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sehwag wrote, "Funny when people think having a desire that our nation be addressed as Bharat is viewed as a political thing.
I am no fan of any particular political party. There are good people in both national parties and there are also very many incompetent people in both parties."

"I once again reaffirm, that I have never had, nor have any political aspirations. If I did have any, would have gladly accepted the last two LS elections from both parties. And if I had to, on-field achievements were enough to get a ticket from either party."

The cricketer-turned-commentator further added, "Speaking heart out is different from political aspiration. My only interest is 'Bharat'." While speaking about the opposition political parties - who have allied under the new name I.N.D.I.A., Sehwag claimed he has no problem calling themselves 'B.H.A.R.A.T. and suggested by some other politicians, including senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

"As for the United Opposition calling themselves I.N.D.I.A, they can very well call themselves B.H.A.R.A.T, there are very many creative people who can suggest apt full forms for the same. Congress even had a yatra called the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Unfortunately, many people feel insecure of the word 'Bharat'.

"In my view, irrespective of the alliance name, elections will be labelled between Modi vs the leader of the opposition. May the best win. It will just give me a great deal of satisfaction and fulfilment if we are addressed as a nation by the name 'Bharat'," he wrote further on the micro-blogging site.