"Change Constitution if you have guts, will see who support you": Omar Abdullah hits out at Centre amid India-Bharat row

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Amidst the ongoing debate over the use of the names "Bharat" and "India," National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has challenged the central government. He has called upon the government to undertake a constitutional amendment if they intend to change the country's name.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah emphasized that any move to rename the country would require a change in the Constitution, a task he believes is far from straightforward. He further asserted that the government should consider who would support such a change.

The controversy gained momentum after Rashtrapati Bhawan sent out invitations for a G20 dinner scheduled for September 9, which referred to the 'President of Bharat.' This development led to speculation that the government might be contemplating a change in the country's name from "India" to "Bharat."

While the opposition has accused the government of engaging in theatrical posturing, BJP leaders have expressed strong support for this potential name change.

National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah also weighed in on the matter, reminding the public that the Constitution already recognizes "Bharat" and "India" as synonymous. He urged the media to avoid fanning controversy.

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Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration has unveiled a revised schedule for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections in the Kargil region. This decision follows a directive from the Supreme Court.

Omar Abdullah expressed his party's readiness to garner support from the region's populace after the court's verdict. He expressed his disappointment that the party had to fight for its rights within the political landscape.

Regarding the election schedule, it has been announced that voting for 26 out of the 30 LAHDC seats will occur on October 4. The LAHDC Kargil was established in 2003.

Previously, the Union Territory of Ladakh had scheduled LAHDC elections for September 10, with vote counting slated for September 14. The updated notification now indicates that the nomination process will commence on September 9, concluding on September 16. The deadline for withdrawing nominations has been set for September 20.

Vote counting will take place on October 8, with voting hours specified as 8 am to 4 pm. The notification stipulates that the entire election process should conclude by October 11.