Demand to Replace Sengol with Constitution in Parliament: What Akhilesh Yadav, Yogi Adityanath said?

Samajwadi Party MP RK Chaudhary has sparked a debate by demanding the Constitution be placed in Parliament instead of the Sengol. This demand has elicited strong reactions from various political figures, including NDA MPs and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav has also given his reaction.

RK Chaudhary, addressing the media, emphasized the importance of the Constitution, saying, "We are Ambedkarites. Baba Saheb wrote the Constitution, and since its implementation, democracy has prevailed in the country. However, the BJP government, particularly under Modi's leadership, has placed the Sengol next to the Speaker's seat in Parliament. 'Sengol' is a Tamil word meaning scepter, symbolizing royal authority."

He continued, "In the past, kings would use the scepter to assert their decisions in court. With India's independence and the abolition of monarchy, the country should now be governed by the Constitution, not by symbols of royal power."

NDA MPs have swiftly responded to Chaudhary's statement. BJP leader CR Kesavan criticized Chaudhary's remarks as disrespectful, stating, "RK Chaudhary's comments are insulting to millions of devotees and undermine the sanctity of Parliament. Such behavior is not unexpected from a Samajwadi Party MP."

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his disapproval on Twitter, saying, "The Samajwadi Party does not respect India's history and culture. The statements from SP leaders regarding the Sengol are condemnable and reflect a disdain for Tamil culture. Sengol is a symbol of India's pride."

PM forgot to bow before Sengol during the oath ceremony: Akhilesh

When questioned about the controversy, SP President Akhilesh Yadav offered his perspective, saying, "I believe our MPs are making this demand because, initially, the Prime Minister bowed before the Sengol, but he forgot to do so during the oath ceremony. This might have prompted the demand. If the Prime Minister forgot to show respect, the same sentiment might have influenced our MPs."

The Sengol was installed by PM Modi in May 2023 in the new Parliament premises. Modi accepted the Sengol from the Adhinam Monastery in Tamil Nadu and placed it near the Speaker's seat. Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, accepted the Sengol from Tamil priests on August 14, 1947, as a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to India. However, experts have questioned the likelihood of Nehru acknowledging it as a symbol of power transfer, suggesting the possibility is minimal.

The debate around the Sengol and the Constitution highlights the ongoing clash between preserving historical symbols and upholding constitutional values in India's political landscape.