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The controversy over the inauguration of the new Parliament building was already going on. Now the angle of the sceptre 'Sengol' has also been added to it. The Centre has announced that in the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will install the historic Sengola (Rajdanda), which was given to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by over 20 subordinate heads of Tamil Nadu. New Delhi: The Congress on Friday questioned the BJP's claim that Sengol was used as a symbol of transfer of power from the British to Indians in 1947.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "There is no documentary evidence that Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru considered this scepter 'Sengol' as a symbol of transfer of power from the British to India. Neither of Rajagopalachari's two biographers has spoken about it," he said, alleging that the government and its "drummers" were using formal sceptres for their political end in Tamil Nadu. All the claims that are being made about this are fake.

The Centre has claimed that 'Sengol' was handed over to the then PM Nehru to mark the transfer of power from the British to the Indians. The government and BJP leaders have cited several news reports ranging from Tamil Nadu-based magazine 'Thuglaq' to America's 'Time' magazine in their claims. The BJP has also accused the Congress of insulting Hindu traditions by calling the holy 'Sengol' a "gold stick" and keeping it in a museum. 'Sengol' is believed to have been at Nehru's ancestral home Anand Bhawan in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). From Anand Bhawan, it was later sent to the Allahabad Museum.

Pm Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28. After this, the PM will install this 'Sengol' near the Lok Sabha Speaker's seat. As many as 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, have announced to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

The Congress has raised questions over the BJP's claims on the symbolic role of 'Sengol' on independence night. Congress party general secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The new Parliament is being sanctified with false stories of WhatsApp University. BJP and RSS have made more claims and kept fewer facts." He writes that a royal scepter was spoken of by a religious establishment in the then Madras province and prepared in the city of Madras and presented to Nehru in August 4.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan told NDTV, "Sengol was a symbol of monarchy and not democracy. It is not given by political parties but by monasteries. He gave a stanzale when India got independence at that time. These things have no place in a democracy. It is a symbol of monarchy."

Home Minister Amit Shah, while explaining the history and heritage of 'Sengol', had said that 'Sengol' was more or less forgotten after 1047. "In 1971, a Tamil scholar mentioned it in a book. Our government mentioned this in 2021-22. The 96-year-old Tamil scholar was present when Sengol was handed over in 1947. He will now also be present at the installation of Sengol in the new Parliament building."

The BJP has said it is giving the traditional symbol of transfer of power used by the Chola kings in Parliament by installing it in Parliament. "A museum is not the right place for such an important traditional symbol. It reflects our rich heritage. When the PM announced Amrit Kaal, rejuvenating Indian pride over our ancient glory was one of the top priorities."

More than 24 heads of the Adhinam (originally Shaiva Monastery) have already arrived in the national capital to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament on Sunday. According to people familiar with the matter, the opening ceremony will also feature Vedic traditions and Tamil customs.

Sugata Srinivasaraju, an expert and writer on South Indian politics, said, "Sengol's story is making headlines. It is a narrative with many elements. But if there is only investigation, then its grand narrative, its past and significance will be of no use.

"The opposition needs mega, authentic, organic, cultural stories. They didn't care about it in the last 9 years. Whether it's a lie or a truth... Yet the opposition is just caught in its trap."

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