Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh slammed opponents who questioned the usage of the lotus emblem, resembling the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election symbol in the G-20 logo as India prepares to assume the presidency next month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the G-20 symbol, theme, and website earlier this week. “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” the Prime Minister said during a video conference on Monday, describing the lotus in the emblem as “a symbol of hope in these tough times.”
Controversies erupt over symbols associated with our ancestry. You should be aware that a G-20 logo was launched, with the nations controlling approximately 85 percent of global GDP, said Minister Singh.
“There is a limit to which such claims should be pushed. The reality is that in 1950, the lotus was declared the national flower. And they did that because the lotus is a symbol of India’s heritage. In 1857, when the first freedom struggle was waged, revolutionaries fought with lotus in one hand and roti in another,” Singh said in a rally.
An unnecessary row is being created. Just because it is a symbol of a party, should it be no longer considered the national flower? Asked the defence minister.
While introducing the subject, PM Modi also stated that the G-20 Presidency was not only a diplomatic summit for India; it will in fact be a new responsibility and a gauge of the world’s trust in India.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi will attend the 17th G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, beginning on Monday.
