A group of Adheenam priests from Chennai made a significant gesture by presenting the Sengol, a golden spectre, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
According to the reports by India Today, the event took place ahead of the much-anticipated inauguration of the new Parliament building. The priests, who arrived in Delhi earlier in the day, had the opportunity to meet PM Modi at his residence. During the meeting, they offered their blessings to the Prime Minister.
The Sengol, a historic symbol, will find its place in the Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament. It holds immense historical value, having been presented to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of India's Independence. Interestingly, the Sengol had been stored in a museum in Allahabad for an extended period until recently, when it was decided to bring it to the new Parliament building.
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The presentation of the Sengol has not been without controversy. It became the center of a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party. The Congress party questioned the significance of the Sengol as a symbol of the "transfer of power" from the British to the Indians. In response, Smriti Irani, a BJP leader, criticized the Congress party, stating that their view of the Sengol as a walking stick revealed their perception of democracy.
The upcoming inauguration of the new Parliament building is expected to be a grand affair, with the participation of around 25 political parties. However, it is worth noting that 20 opposition parties have decided to boycott the event. Their decision is rooted in their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Modi leading the unveiling, as they had expected President Droupadi Murmu to have that honor.
