Sengol's Use in India's History Refuted by J Ramesh; TN Party Veteran Disagrees

NEW DELHI: Pannai T. Chockalingam, a veteran of the Tamil Nadu Congress, refuted senior party leader Jairam Ramesh's assertion that there is no "documentary evidence" that Rajagopalachari, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Lord Mountbatten were engaged in the introduction of the Sengol as a symbol of the change of power on August 14, 1947.

Chockalingam said that the Thiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam monastery should preside over the Sengol ritual, which was suggested by the former Governor General of India, C Rajagopalachari.

The assertions that Lord Mountbatten, Rajaji, and Nehru described Sengol as the symbol of the transfer of power and other things are untrue, according to Congress politician Ramesh in a Twitter post. He added that the PM is making bogus claims like these in order to forward his political agenda in Tamil Nadu.

In a news conference on May 24, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the Sengol's installation in the new parliament building and revealed that Lord Mountbatten had given it to Jawaharlal Nehru as a sign of the transfer of sovereignty from the British to the Indians.

“There is no documented evidence whatsoever of Mountbatten, Rajaji & Nehru describing this sceptre as a symbol of the transfer of British power to India. All claims to this effect are plain and simple — BOGUS,” The assertions are being made by the PM and BJP to acquire political space in Tamil Nadu, Jairam Ramesh stated while also making the statement. “The sceptre is now being used by the PM & his drum-beaters for their political ends in Tamil Nadu. This is typical of this brigade that embroiders facts to suit its twisted objectives.”

Pannai T Chockalingam, a longtime Congress official and the State Chief of the Tamil Nadu Saiva Vellalar Sangam, which is headquartered in Mayiladuthurai, stated: "It was our Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari, last Governor General of India) who convinced Nehru that such a ceremony was needed, saying 'Bharat' has its own traditions and that the transfer of sovereign power should be presided over by a spiritual guru."

Chockalingam further said it was Rajaji who underscored that Thiruvavaduthurai Aadeenam was an ancient monastery that could be assigned the responsibility of making the Sengol, and this suggestion was accepted by Nehru and it happened as proposed. "This Sengol was made and presented in keeping with traditions dating back to the Chola era," the octogenarian said.

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