Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has claimed that there is no documented evidence of Lord Mountbatten, C Rajagopalachari, and Jawaharlal Nehru describing the ‘Sengol’ as a symbol of the transfer of power by the British to India. Ramesh has also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters are using the ceremonial scepter for their political ends in Tamil Nadu.
The ‘Sengol’ is set to be installed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha speaker following the inauguration of the new Parliament building by PM Modi on May 28. The event is expected to be attended by 25 political parties, although 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, have chosen to boycott it.
Previously, the BJP had accused the Congress of showing disregard for Hindu traditions by referring to the sacred ‘Sengol’ as a “golden stick” gifted to India’s first Prime Minister, Nehru, and placing it in a museum. Amit Malviya, a BJP leader, had stated that the vesting of the “sacred ‘Sengol'” with Nehru marked the precise moment of power transfer from the British to India.
Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to express his views on the matter. He claimed that the scepter, which was conceived by a religious establishment in the Madras province and crafted in Madras City (now Chennai), was indeed presented to Jawaharlal Nehru in August 1947. However, he emphasized that there is no documented evidence of Mountbatten, Rajaji, and Nehru describing the scepter as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. Ramesh dismissed such claims as “bogus” and stated that they were fabricated and circulated through WhatsApp messages.
Ramesh further criticized the decision to have PM Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building, sidelining President Droupadi Murmu. Opposition parties had boycotted the event, considering it an insult and an assault on democracy. Ramesh pointed out the alleged spread of false narratives from what he called “WhatsApp University” and accused the BJP-RSS historians of distorting facts without substantial evidence.
According to Ramesh, the scepter presented to Nehru was later put on display at the Allahabad Museum. He emphasized that Nehru’s statement at the museum on December 14, 1947, is a matter of public record, regardless of the labels attached to the scepter.
In summary, Jairam Ramesh, a Congress leader, has claimed that there is no documented evidence of the ‘Sengol’ being described as a symbol of power transfer by Mountbatten, Rajaji, and Nehru. He criticized PM Modi and his supporters for allegedly using the scepter for political purposes in Tamil Nadu. Ramesh’s statements come amid the controversy surrounding the inauguration of the new Parliament building, with opposition parties boycotting the event.