PM Modi slammed the Congress today for not paying “due respect” to the historical sceptre Sengol a day before the inauguration of the new parliament, where the Sengol will be installed. “…It would have been nice if the holy Sengol had been treated with respect and given an honourable position after independence.” However, this Sengol was displayed as a walking stick in Anand Bhawan, Prayagraj. “Your sevak and our government have brought the Sengol out of Anand Bhawan,” PM Modi said after meeting the Adheenams and receiving their blessings at his Delhi home.
The seers presented the Sengol to PM Modi this evening while chanting mantras.
Nearly 60 religious leaders, many of whom are from Tamil Nadu, have been invited to the event. Tamil Nadu’s Adheenams, or mutts, have a history of resisting upper caste dominance and are known for bringing religion to the masses. Many of them date back hundreds of years.
The Thiruvavaduthurai adherence, which was tasked with preparing the Sengol or sceptre for the transfer of power, is 400 years old.
The Sengol, which was given to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by the British, had been kept in an Allahabad museum until now. It will be located near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair in the new parliament building.
The Congress has refuted the BJP’s claim that the Sengol represented the transition of power from the British to an independent India.
BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, have responded by saying the Congress should “reflect” on its actions. Mr Shah dismissed the Congress’ claim that there was no evidence that the Sengol was a symbol of power transfer.
PM Modi will arrive at the new parliament at 7.15 a.m. tomorrow, followed by a puja 15 minutes later, according to the tentative schedule. At 8.35 a.m., he will enter the Lok Sabha chamber.
The new parliament building reflects India’s diverse culture, with carpets from Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur, bamboo flooring from Tripura, and stone carvings from Rajasthan. To commemorate the historic event, the government has issued commemorative 75 coins.
