Tamil Nadu BJP State President K. Annamalai has issued a strong rebuttal to recent comments made by Madurai MP Su Venkatesan regarding the Sengol, a scepter symbolizing Hindu Tamil culture, which was placed in the new parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a symbol of righteousness and justice.
Su Venkatesan, who is also the State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), had sparked controversy by mocking the Sengol during his speech in the 18th Lok Sabha’s motion of thanks to the President. The MP from Madurai, a seat renowned for its historical and cultural significance, including being the abode of Goddess Meenakshi, questioned the relevance of the Sengol in modern parliamentary proceedings.
During his speech, Venkatesan ridiculed the symbolic narrative of the Sengol by comparing it unfavorably with historical kings known for their polygamous practices and opulent lifestyles. He questioned the symbolism of bringing the Sengol into the parliament, suggesting it was inappropriate due to historical associations of oppression.
“Do you know how many hundreds of women were kept as slaves by each king who held this Sengol? What are you trying to say to the women of the country by bringing and keeping the Sengol here? It is painful,” Venkatesan queried, adding that the gesture undermines the progress of women’s rights.
In a press conference held recently, Annamalai responded to Venkatesan’s remarks by showcasing a photograph of Venkatesan and Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan (PTR) handing over the Sengol to a woman mayor. Pointing to the photograph, Annamalai remarked, “In this picture, Su Venkatesan has handed over the Sengol to a woman mayor. Does this signify that he is enslaving this woman mayor? Tamil Nadu politicians are trying to find new logic and speak on it.”
Annamalai highlighted what he termed as political hypocrisy, noting that Venkatesan attended the event and handed the Sengol to a DMK mayor, yet criticized its placement in the parliament by PM Modi. “BJP is trying to call out such political hypocrisy,” Annamalai stated.
He further elaborated on the cultural and historical significance of the Sengol, referencing Thiruvalluvar, the revered Tamil poet and philosopher, who dedicated an entire chapter to the concept of Sengol in his seminal work, the Tirukkural. Annamalai reminded that the land has built statues for Thiruvalluvar, with initiatives led by leaders like Karunanidhi and first proposed by Eknath Ranade.
“Does Su Venkatesan’s stand signify that Thiruvalluvar is wrong?” Annamalai questioned. He expressed admiration for Venkatesan’s literary work but criticized him for aligning with the DMK’s stance, which Annamalai suggested was politically motivated due to electoral support in Madurai. “The people of Tamil Nadu are watching everything. They know who is doing progressive politics in Tamil Nadu,” Annamalai concluded.
மதுரை எம்.பி சு. வெங்கடேசனை கடுமையாக சாடிய அண்ணாமலை#Coimbatore | #BJP | #Annamalai | #Venkatesan | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/XmvYVQLTEr
— Polimer News (@polimernews) July 2, 2024
Subscribe to our channels onTelegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.