A lotus, not a Chinese dragon
Indian PM Modi's home state changes name of fruit
AHMEDABAD, (Reuters) - The government in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat has decided to change the name of dragon fruit as it feels the original name is associated with China, drawing derision from the country's opposition.
India and China are currently locked in a military standoff along their contested Himalayan border, with New Delhi responding to the deaths of 20 of its troops in June by banning Chinesemade apps and curbing imports.
“The Gujarat government has decided the word dragon fruit is not appropriate, and is associated with China. The fruit's shape is like a lotus, and hence we have given it a Sanskrit name, kamalam,” Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani told media.
The lotus, or kamal as it is called in Hindi, is the symbol of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The fruit will henceforth be known as kamalam in the state, said Rupani, who is from the BJP.
The development comes a few months after Modi had praised farmers in a radio programme for cultivating the dragon fruit in the arid region of Kutch in Gujarat.
There are more than 200 farmers in Kutch alone who are growing dragon fruit, said Haresh Thakkar, a farmer from the region. “The Indian name of the fruit will bring more happiness to us. We feel that the acceptance level of the fruit will also increase if it is looked upon as an Indian fruit,” said Thakkar.
The fruit is also grown in neighbouring Maharashtra state and in northeastern India. There was no sign that local governments there were planning any name change.
The opposition Congress called the name change a gimmick.
“The government has nothing worthwhile to show as achievements, and is trying to divert attention from real issues,” Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.