New Delhi: Opposition leaders on Tuesday showered criticism upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unveiling of the national emblem atop the new parliament building, alleging modification to the national symbol. What began as a protest by Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury questioning Modi's "solo show" while unveiling the emblem, gradually intensified into long-drawn criticism of the new emblem, with several leaders and Opposition parties claiming the changes amounted to insult.
"The original symbol reflects a sense of gentleness, whereas the face of the copy highlights a tendency to swallow everything belonging to man, ancestors, and the homeland. Every symbol highlights the thoughts in a human being's mind. Humans show others through symbols what their nature is," the Rashtriya Janata Dal tweeted.
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, TMC MP who was recently embroiled in the 'Kaali' controversy, did not say anything but tweeted a picture juxtaposing the traditional emblem and the recently unveiled one. "Truth be told, transition from Satyameva Jayate to Singhameva Jayate has long been completed in spirit," she said in a separate tweet. Later, the TMC leader later corrected her tweet, saying, "Sorry I meant transition from Satyameva Jayate to Sanghimeva Jayate is complete. Let’s not involve lions."
Also read: PM Modi unveils national emblem on new Parliament building
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) social media convener Y Sathish Reddy expressed surprise, saying, "Ashoka’s lions now bare their fangs? Seems like a new addition by ModiGovt ! What’s happening?". "From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs. This is Modi's new India!", lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted.
After the national emblem was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 11, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday questioned the move and called it a solo show. "The solo show of unveiling the national emblem by PM @narendramodi Ji, has already drawn a flurry of questions including constitutional propriety, let alone democratic values. We are all familiar with our PM's "#Who_Cares_Whom" attitude," tweeted Chowdhury.
The BJP reacted to the opposition's remarks by slamming them for comparing 2D images to a 3D structure. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri pointed out to the "sense of proportion". "Sense of proportion & perspective. Beauty is famously regarded as lying in the eyes of the beholder. So is the case with calm & anger. The original Sarnath Emblem is 1.6 mtr high whereas the emblem on the top of the New Parliament Building is huge at 6.5 mtrs height," his first tweet in a series of tweets read.
"If an exact replica of the original were to be placed on the new building, it would barely be visible beyond the peripheral rail. The 'experts' should also know that the original placed in Sarnath is at ground level while the new emblem is at a height of 33 mtrs from ground," he wrote in another tweet. "One needs to appreciate the impact of angle, height & scale when comparing the two structures. If one looks at the Sarnath emblem from below it would look as calm or angry as the one being discussed. If the Sarnath emblem was to be scaled up or the emblem on the new Parliament building is reduced to that size there would not be any difference," he added while sharing the old and new pictures of the emblem titled 'perfect replica'.
BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya too jumped in. “The National Emblem atop the new Parliament building of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Asoka, which is preserved in the Sarnath Museum. There is just no change. The opposition is comparing 2D images in print to an imposing 3D structure. They have lost it,” he said.
PM Modi unveiled the national emblem cast on the roof of the new Parliament building on Monday. The emblem is made of bronze with a total weight of 9,500 kilogram and is 6.5 metres in height. It has been cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the new Parliament building. A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6500 kg has been constructed to support the emblem.
The concept sketch and process of casting the national emblem on the roof of the new Parliament building has gone through eight different stages of preparation from clay modeling/computer graphic to bronze casting and polishing. The PM also interacted with the workers involved in the work of the new Parliament. Also present on the occasion were Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Minister of Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri.
