Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], amid the ongoing political controversy sparked by Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament RK Chaudhary's recent comments calling the 'Sengol' a symbol of the monarchy, Amarendran Vummidi, great-grandson of jeweler Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, who made The 'Sengol' stated that it symbolizes "justice" and not monarchy.
"Sengol is a symbol of justice, not a symbol of monarchy... Sengol is strategically kept behind the Speaker's chair to remind him to be fair to all parties in parliament... Removing Sengol is tantamount to committing an injustice ...” Vummidi said speaking to ANI on Friday.
On Thursday, RK Chaudhary sparked controversy by saying that the 'Sengol' that has been put up in Parliament is a symbol of the monarchy and should be removed.
"The Constitution is the symbol of democracy. The BJP government, under Prime Minister Modi, installed the Sengol in Parliament. 'Sengol' means 'Raj-Dand' or 'Raja ka Danda'. After ending the order princely, the country became independent. Will the country be governed by 'Raja ka danda' or by the Constitution? I demand that Sengol be removed from Parliament to save the Constitution," the PS leader said.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Chaudhary and suggested that the comment could be a reminder to the Prime Minister.
"When the Sengol was installed, the chief minister bowed before him. He might have forgotten while taking oath. Maybe our MP's comment was to remind him," Yadav said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore supported Chaudhary's demand, criticizing the government for creating high drama during the inauguration of Parliament. "This is a good suggestion from our Samajwadi Party colleague," Tagore said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the SP MP's comments are "condemnable and indicate his ignorance".
On the social media platform, Yogi Adityanath wrote: "The Samajwadi Party has no respect for Indian history or culture. The comments of its top leaders on Sengol are condemnable and indicate their ignorance. It also shows the hatred of the INDI Alliance towards the Tamil culture in particular."
He further emphasized that the Sengol is the pride of India and added, "It is a matter of honor that the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has accorded it the highest respect in Parliament."
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the SP's stance, accusing it of disrespecting Indian and Tamil culture.
On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber, next to the President's chair in the new Parliament building, after performing a traditional puja. This Sengol, presented to Prime Minister Modi by Adheenams, was earlier accepted by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the night of August 14, 1947.
"Sengol is a symbol of justice, not a symbol of monarchy... Sengol is strategically kept behind the Speaker's chair to remind him to be fair to all parties in parliament... Removing Sengol is tantamount to committing an injustice ...” Vummidi said speaking to ANI on Friday.
On Thursday, RK Chaudhary sparked controversy by saying that the 'Sengol' that has been put up in Parliament is a symbol of the monarchy and should be removed.
"The Constitution is the symbol of democracy. The BJP government, under Prime Minister Modi, installed the Sengol in Parliament. 'Sengol' means 'Raj-Dand' or 'Raja ka Danda'. After ending the order princely, the country became independent. Will the country be governed by 'Raja ka danda' or by the Constitution? I demand that Sengol be removed from Parliament to save the Constitution," the PS leader said.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Chaudhary and suggested that the comment could be a reminder to the Prime Minister.
"When the Sengol was installed, the chief minister bowed before him. He might have forgotten while taking oath. Maybe our MP's comment was to remind him," Yadav said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore supported Chaudhary's demand, criticizing the government for creating high drama during the inauguration of Parliament. "This is a good suggestion from our Samajwadi Party colleague," Tagore said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the SP MP's comments are "condemnable and indicate his ignorance".
On the social media platform, Yogi Adityanath wrote: "The Samajwadi Party has no respect for Indian history or culture. The comments of its top leaders on Sengol are condemnable and indicate their ignorance. It also shows the hatred of the INDI Alliance towards the Tamil culture in particular."
He further emphasized that the Sengol is the pride of India and added, "It is a matter of honor that the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has accorded it the highest respect in Parliament."
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the SP's stance, accusing it of disrespecting Indian and Tamil culture.
On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber, next to the President's chair in the new Parliament building, after performing a traditional puja. This Sengol, presented to Prime Minister Modi by Adheenams, was earlier accepted by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the night of August 14, 1947.
