The Sengol, the signifier of governance in Tamil kingdoms of yore, was made by Madras (now Chennai) jewellers Vummidi Bangaru Chetty. It was then displayed in the Allahabad Museum. Made of silver and gold, the sceptre was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947 as a symbol of transfer of power from Britain to India after a suggestion from India's last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari, the government had said earlier this week. On Sunday, it will be installed near the Speaker's seat in the new Parliament, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Friday, the Congress questioned this version of history, saying while the scepter was indeed crafted in Madras and presented to Nehru in 1947, it had no connection to the freedom movement or India's Independence. "There is no documented evidence whatsoever of [Louis] Mountbatten, Rajaji (C Rajagopachari) and Nehru describing this spectre as a symbol of transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple bogus," tweeted senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
He also said that none of the scholars who studied Rajagopachari's life and legacy had ever mentioned the sceptre.
Hours later, the government hit back.
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