Summary:
Kolkata, Dec 5 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday stated that the controversy over the use of lotus in the G20 logo is "not a non-issue" but she would refrain from raising it as the matter, if discussed outside, may not augur well for the country.
The CM also contended that the central government could have chosen any national symbol other than the lotus for the summit"s logo, as the flower also represents a political party.
The Congress has alleged that the Centre used lotus in the G20 logo in a bid to promote the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded to the allegation, saying that the flower was part of the country’s cultural identity.
Banerjee, before leaving for New Delhi, told reporters at the city airport, "I have also seen it (the Lotus logo).
As it"s a matter related to our country, we are not saying anything.
It does not augur well for the country if the issue gets discussed outside." At the national capital, the CM will be attending the meeting called by PM Narendra Modi to discuss the preparatory process for the G20 summit in 2023.
"It cannot be denied that the national flower is also the logo of a political party.
There are so many other national symbols which could have been used in the logo.
Even if I don’t raise this matter (in Delhi), others may," she said.
"I have seen it but did not say much.