National symbols must always work as unifiers

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In a joint statement, 19 opposition parties called the Centres decision to have it opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of President Droupadi Murmu not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy.".

Called sengol in Tamil and drawn from a Chola tradition of power transfer that was revived in 1947 for the symbolic handover of authority to our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by the British Empire, this is a staff with Nandi the Sacred Bull as its insignia..

Given to Nehru just before freedom at midnight, as reported, this sceptre was retrieved from obscurity and will be consecrated by religious rituals and handed to Modi for installation in our all-new capitol complex to signify fair and equitable governance..

It will shine near the Lok Sabha Speakers podium as a national symbol of Amrit Kaal, an era that will witness the new India taking its rightful place in the world," said home minister Amit Shah by way of elaboration, referring to the years ahead till 2047, a period that may see our membership of Parliament enlarged and constituencies redrawn to reflect demographic shifts, which was the basis for why the Modi administration opted for a whole new construction project..

Although few doubt a shift in Indias direction, even visible in emblematic moves, clever calibration helps the BJP counter critics and rouse its support base simultaneously..

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