Asserting that transfer of power does not happen by mere shaking hands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday appealed to opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the dedication of the new Parliament building scheduled for May 28, saying it was “democracy”. The temple of ,
Addressing reporters in Chennai, he said that 20 “Aadinams” (Pontiffs) from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration, where ‘Sengol’ will be installed, as a symbol of the transition of power from the British in 1947 it was done. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate the new Parliament House on Sunday.
Sitharaman addressed a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here in the presence of TN Governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilisai Soundararajan and LA Ganesan respectively, Union Minister L Murugan and TN Minister PK Sekar Babu.
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, which is one of the 19 opposition parties at the Center boycotting the inauguration, termed the sengol (scepter) a symbol of the monarchy and insisted it had nothing to do with democracy.
Responding to the opposition protesting against the inauguration of PM Modi instead of President Draupadi Murmu, Sitharaman indirectly attacked the Congress, saying that its former chief Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the Chhattisgarh assembly building instead of the governor of that state. State first.
Sitharaman said, it is strange that those who criticized the President now find themselves morally motivated.
“I am shocked by her allegation. These parties saw the President coming from a tribal background and launched a bitter campaign against her. Leaders of opposition parties spoke ill of her and said she would be a rubber stamp and she would be a victim of evil forces. represents,” Sitharaman said.
“But the Prime Minister gave him due respect. Those who used to campaign bitterly then, are now suddenly speaking for him.
When asked about his comment on the boycott of the inauguration by several political parties, he replied, “Parliament is the temple of democracy and these parties should reconsider their decision and participate.” Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that some political parties have a habit of doing politics according to their convenience.
“I was not invited for the inauguration of the assembly complex which was inaugurated by the chief minister (K Chandrasekhar Rao). Some parties know how to do politics, when to take the name of Governor or Chief Minister as per their convenience.
Sitharaman said that the unveiling of the Golden Sengol is an important event in the history of Indian parliamentary democracy.
“The Rajya Sabha is part of the Parliament complex and Sengol will be housed in the Lok Sabha which marks an important event in the temple of democracy and also Tamil Nadu’s connection with the symbolic transfer of power through Sengol,” he said.
He said, ‘The transfer of power never happens on shaking hands. There are many things that make events sacred and Sengol represents one such sacred event. It talks about the civilizational link,” she said.
Asked whether the images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on the scepter should be accepted by people of all religions, he said that when the British left India, there were Christians and Muslims in the country. No one objected to the images being given to Lord Mountbatten and later to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“Indonesia, a Muslim majority nation, for example, has Ganesha and Lakshmi on their currency notes. They see nothing wrong in displaying their civilizational symbols,” he said and hoped that Senggol would also approve. Transfer from the British to the people of India in 1947.
This was done on the advice of Tiruvaduthurai Aadheenam after the late CR Rajagopalachari discussed it with the Shaiva Pontiff, followed by Nehru’s consultation.
He said 20 adinamas from Tamil Nadu including Thiruvaduthurai, Perur and Madurai have been invited for the May 28 inauguration ceremony.
In Tamil, the word ‘aadinam’ refers to both a Saivite monastery and the head of such a monastery.
“The pontiff will attend the event, there will be oduvars (scholars of Shaiva texts and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. Even in 1947 when Othuvargal recited the Kolaru Pathigam, Sengol was handed over to Nehru.”
Meanwhile, the DMK hit out at the government for inviting priests, asking whether religious heads of other faiths have been invited.
DMK spokesperson and former MP TKS Elangovan said Sengol represents the monarchy.
“Sengol is the hallmark of a monarchy. There was no special judicial system in a monarchy, the king was the chief judge, the king was the defense chief, the administration chief; the king controlled the whole country. The king did justice to his subjects.’ He said Sengol has no role in a democracy.
“Sengol represents the monarchy, it talks about the functioning of an emperor, how he should be honest in doing justice among his people. When India got independence in 1947, some people gave Sengol to Pandit Nehru It’s just a symbol, a gift,” he said.
On the invitation extended to 20 Adhims, he said “they are opening a Parliament to invite a religious group, let them respond to it,” and claimed the Center was “violating the Constitution.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,