Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday installed the sacred ‘Sengol’ in the new Lok Sabha chamber placed next to the Lok Sabha Speaker's seat after performing puja. PM Modi who was dressed in a dhoti and with his forehead smeared in sandal paste, bowed down as a mark of respect before ‘Sengol’ during a ceremony to mark the beginning of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
The Tamil priests showered flowers on him as he lay prostrate in front of the 'sengol.' The prime minister also interacted with various people as the multi-faith prayer meeting concluded at the new building of Parliament. Modi prostrated before the ‘Sengol’ and sought blessings from high priests of various Adheenams in Tamil Nadu with the holy sceptre in hand.
PM Modi also received blessings from seers of different Adheenams from Tamil Nadu after placing the historic ‘Sengol’ in the new Parliament building. This is the same Sengol which was given to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru by the British and it was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum and had been moved to the national capital for its installation in the new Parliament building.
Following the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi, PM Modi tweeted, "As the new building of India’s Parliament is inaugurated, our hearts and minds are filled with pride, hope and promise. May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress.”
However, Congress has rejected the BJP’s claim that the Sengol symbolised the transfer of power from the British to an independent India. However, Home Minister Amit Shah reacted and said the grand old party needs to 'reflect' on its behaviour.