Congress says no proof of 'Sengol' as British-India power transfer symbol; BJP asks why hate Indian traditions?
2 min read 26 May 2023, 03:39 PM ISTWhile Congress claims there is ‘no documented evidence’ on 'Sengol' being symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India, the BJP has got back saying why does the party hate Indian traditions so much
PremiumA war of words has erupted between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the claims that ‘Sengol’ was a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to the Indians in 1947. While Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed on Friday that “no documented evidence" exists of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari, and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the “Sengol" as a symbol of the British transferring power to India, the BJP has hit back at the grand-old party for heaping a “shameful insult" on the importance of the “Sengol".
Congress is among the 20 Opposition parties that have decided to boycott the inaugural function alleging that PM Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate it by himself, “completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy."
On Friday, the Congress claimed that there is “no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji and Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India". “All claims to this effect are plain and simple -- bogus," Jairam Ramesh said.
Sengol being used for political ends: Congress
Jairam Ramesh alleged that PM Narendra Modi and his “drum-beaters" are using the ceremonial sceptre for their political ends in Tamil Nadu.
Jairam Ramesh said, “The sceptre is now being used by the PM and his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives. The real question is why is President Droupadi Murmu not being allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament."
Centre hits back
On the Congress' claims that there is no documented evidence to prove that the “Sengol" was indeed given to Jawaharlal Nehru to signify the transfer of power, Union Minister Amit Shah hit back at the grand-old party in a series of tweets and asked why Congress hates Indian traditions and culture.
"Why does the Congress party hate Indian traditions and culture so much? A sacred Sengol was given to Pandit Nehru by a holy Saivite Mutt from Tamil Nadu to symbolize India's freedom but it was banished to a museum as a 'walking stick'," Amit Shah tweeted.
On Thursday, the BJP had alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to India's first prime minister Nehru and tucking it away in a museum.