Amid the ongoing controversy over comments by Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament (MP) RK Chaudhary regarding Sengol, a symbol of the monarchy, Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad criticized the SP leader, urging him to refrain from making absurd statements. Nishad emphasized the importance of using the right to speech thoughtfully.
Addressing the remarks by SP leader RK Chaudhary, the Cabinet Minister said, “In a democracy, everyone has the right to speak, but one should speak thoughtfully on national issues. If there is a problem, it should be addressed directly.”
“They are elected as Lok Sabha members to address public issues, not to make absurd statements. These individuals have a short tenure in Parliament, and their statements do not hold much weight,” he added.
Criticizing the Congress party, the Minister remarked, “Congress has made significant amendments to the Constitution for their own benefit. They should not speak on constitutional issues.”
Earlier, on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned RK Chaudhary’s comments on Sengol, labeling them as “condemnable and indicative of ignorance.”
On social media, Yogi Adityanath wrote, “Samajwadi Party has no respect for Indian history or culture. Their leaders’ remarks on Sengol are condemnable and show their ignorance. It also reflects the INDI Alliance’s disdain for Tamil culture.”
He further emphasized that the Sengol is a symbol of India’s pride, stating, “It is an honor that Hon. PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji accorded it the highest respect in Parliament.”
Earlier, RK Chaudhary had said, “The Constitution is the symbol of democracy. The BJP government, under PM Modi, installed Sengol in Parliament. ‘Sengol’ means ‘Raj-Dand’ or ‘Raja ka Danda’. After abolishing the princely order, the country became independent. Will the country be governed by ‘Raja ka danda’ or the Constitution? I demand that Sengol be removed from Parliament to save the Constitution.”
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Chaudhary, suggesting that his remark might be a reminder for the Prime Minister. “When the Sengol was installed, the PM bowed before it. He might have forgotten this while taking the oath. Maybe our MP’s remark was to remind him of that,” Yadav stated.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore supported Chaudhary’s demand, criticizing the government for creating high drama during the Parliament inauguration. “This is a good suggestion from our Samajwadi Party colleague,” said Tagore.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the SP’s stance, accusing them of disrespecting Indian and Tamil culture.
On May 28, 2023, PM 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 handed over to PM Modi by Adheenams and was previously accepted by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the night of August 14, 1947.