In a heated exchange of tweets, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed over the alleged significance of the 'Sengol' symbol that will be placed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building, set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed claims that Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalchari, and Jawaharlal Nehru had referred to the 'Sengol' as a symbol of the transfer of power between Britain and India. In a tweet, Ramesh denounced such claims as "bogus" and accused the BJP and its supporters of fabricating narratives that spread through WhatsApp and the media.
Ramesh further accused Prime Minister Modi and his supporters of exploiting the 'Sengol' for political gain in Tamil Nadu, criticizing their alleged distortion of facts to suit their objectives. He referred to the BJP and RSS as "Distorians" and claimed that their claims lacked substantial evidence.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah swiftly responded to the Congress' allegations, questioning their apparent disregard for Indian traditions and culture. Shah tweeted that the 'Sengol' had been presented to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu as a symbol of India's freedom. He criticized Congress for relegating this sacred item to a museum, dismissing it as a mere walking stick.
Amit Shah emphasized the importance of the 'Sengol' during India's struggle for independence, mentioning that the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam, the holy Saivite Mutt, had recognized its significance. Shah criticized Congress for questioning the history presented by the Adheenam, urging them to reflect on their behaviour.
In response to the BJP's claims, the Congress' boycott of the new Parliament building inauguration was criticized by BJP President JP Nadda. Nadda labelled the boycotting parties, particularly the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, as "dynasty-run" and accused them of opposing the principles of republicanism and democracy in the Indian Constitution. He suggested that their elitist mindsets hindered logical thinking.
BJP spokesperson Amit Malaviya cited a historian and researcher of Sangam Literature who confirmed that the tradition of handing over a sceptre as a symbol of power transfer had been practised for nearly 2,000 years since the Sangam Age.
Previously, the BJP had accused the Congress of showing disregard for Hindu traditions by referring to the sacred 'Sengol' as a "golden stick gifted" to Nehru.
Congress, along with 19 other opposition parties, announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building, citing the exclusion of President Droupadi Murmu from the event as a grave insult and a direct assault on democracy.
As the war of words escalates between Congress and the BJP, the controversy surrounding the 'Sengol' symbol continues to overshadow the upcoming inauguration of the new Parliament building.
Inputs from PTI