Amarendran Vummidi Defends ‘Sengol’ as Symbol of Justice Amid Political Controversy
Amarendran Vummidi, the great-grandson of jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty who made the ‘Sengol’, has stated that the ‘Sengol’ symbolizes justice, not monarchy. He emphasized that it is strategically placed behind the Speaker’s chair in Parliament to remind the Speaker to be just to all parties.
Recently, Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament (MP) RK Chaudhary sparked controversy by calling the ‘Sengol’ a symbol of monarchy and demanding its removal from Parliament. Chaudhary argued that the Constitution is the true symbol of democracy and questioned whether the country should be run by ‘Raja ka danda’ (king’s staff) or the Constitution.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Chaudhary, suggesting that his remark might serve as a reminder to the Prime Minister. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also supported Chaudhary’s demand, criticizing the government for creating high drama during the Parliament inauguration.
In response, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned the SP MP’s remarks, calling them ignorant and disrespectful to Indian history and culture. He emphasized that the ‘Sengol’ is a matter of national pride and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for according it the highest respect in Parliament.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also condemned the SP’s stance, accusing them of disrespecting Indian and Tamil culture.
On May 28, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed the historic ‘Sengol’ in the Lok Sabha chamber, next to the Speaker’s chair in the new Parliament building, after performing a traditional puja. This ‘Sengol’ was previously accepted by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the night of August 14, 1947.
