The Indian state of Gujarat has announced that it will be renaming dragon fruit because its name "is associated to China", NDTV reported. Metaphorically, China is known as the "dragon", while India, for instance, is often referred to as the "elephant".
The state will now call dragon fruit "kamalam", which is the Sanskrit word for "lotus".
"As the outer shape of the fruit resembles a lotus, henceforth the dragon fruit shall be renamed as kamalam", Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said.
The fruit, which is mainly imported from South America, is also cultivated in various parts of Gujarat like Bhuj, Gandhidham, and Mandvi.
The news has caused great buzz on social media, with netizens pointing out how "messed up" the priorities of Indian leaders are at such a crucial time.
Priorities of a Chief Minister are set! He is doing a top notch job!
— Purva Chitnis (@ChitnisPurva) January 20, 2021
Ofcourse we are not satisfied renaming just the cities, we have to do something about the fruits and vegetables...
Btw farmers are still on the borders of Delhi,eh? Just checking.... #dragonfruit https://t.co/SY30aNPVc6
I urge @vijayrupanibjp Sir & @BJP4India to please rename this 'DragonFly' to 'KamalaMakkhi'
— Shailesh 🇮🇳 (@shaileshdhar) January 20, 2021
It will help solve the greatest issues of the Mankind.@CMOGuj please let us know whats the procedure to sanction this change.#dragonfruit #Kamalam #KamalamMakkhi pic.twitter.com/HHwVC3siFk
It's good to start with fruits. Slowly one can move up to vegetables and then go up the food chain.
— RP Karan (@RPKaran8) January 20, 2021
We have all the time in the world to look after pandemic, economy and social probs later in distant future! #dragonfruit #kamalam #dragonfruitrenamed pic.twitter.com/SvvFxr8hRF
I asked the fruit wala bhaiyya, #kamalam dena!" He took serious offence to it, coincidentally, was his wife's name! #dragonfruit saga of India! #pj :( :))
— Rõh Rå (@echoman911) January 20, 2021
This idiocy of #DragonFruit being named #Kamalam is of the highest order.
— Deep Mistry (@deep_mistry1899) January 20, 2021
No words enough so express how idiotic, stupid and foolish it is. Bet they were really high when they decided on this!
In October 2020, when India was celebrating the power of Goddess Durga during the festival "Navratras", a makeshift tent in the state of West Bengal depicted Chinese President Xi Jinping as the demon slaughtered by the goddess.
The idol had Jinping's blood oozing from it while his severed head lay on the floor, and a lion was shown feasting on his body.
In a #DurgaPujo pandal in Bengal, Durga's lion has bitten off Chinese premier Xi's head. From @indraroy's Facebook. pic.twitter.com/VUWgLRuM4A
— Deep Halder (@deepscribble) October 22, 2020
The developments come amid ongoing border woes between India and China that began in April 2020 when troops from the two countries accused each other of violating the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.
In June 2020, India confirmed losing 20 soldiers in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, eastern Ladakh.
After eight rounds of diplomatic talks, India and China have yet to reach a consensus to resolve the border standoff.
