Bangalore: Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge who has been one of the fiercest critics of Hindutva has slammed the BJP-led Union government for reducing itself to merely a “name changer” as opposed to its promise of being a “game changer” before it came to power in Delhi.

Priyank lambasted the Narendra Modi government for allegedly trying to change the name of India into Bharat. “The Modi government that came to power claiming to be 'game changers' is just 'name changers',” he said in a post on X on Wednesday.

"Before 2014, India was competing with developed countries like America, Britain, Russia. Now, in the name of Gujarat model, UP model, they have created ‘Manipur model’ by sowing hatred between castes and races,” he added in the post.

“What else can be expected from the BJP other than name changes, which has put India in the position of patting itself on the back with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?” the minister observed.

"Competent rulers bring change in India and not change the name of India,” Priyank added.

Congress leaders, including Karnataka chief minister and deputy chief minister, came out against the suspected plan to change the name of India and urged the BJP-led Union government to work for the welfare of the people instead.

"It (India) is included in our Constitution which is called the Constitution of India. India itself is a widely accepted name in the country. So, I don’t think it is required to make it Bharat,” chief minister Siddaramaiah told reporters late on Tuesday after addressing a public event in the city.