Opposition: Lions of our National Emblem had a royal smile for 70 years but now, the fascist regime has turned it into hatred and violence.
The Opposition had hit out at Narendra Modi for disregarding constitutional norms and not inviting Opposition leaders to the unveiling of the cast of the national emblem atop the new Parliament building in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh where they also held a religious ceremony at the site.
The Opposition also accused the government of distorting the national emblem by replacing the “graceful and regally confident” Ashokan lions with a threatening and aggressive posture and sought immediate change. “Narendra Modi Ji, please observe the face of the Lion, whether it is representing the statue of Great Sarnath or a distorted version of the GIR lion. Please check it and if it needs, mend the same,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said on Twitter.
Opposition members and activists among others on July 12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on July 11 unveiled the cast of the national emblem atop the new Parliament building in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
“Insult to our national symbol, the majestic Ashokan Lions. Original is on the left, graceful, regally confident. The one on the right is Modi’s version, put above the new Parliament building — snarling, unnecessarily aggressive, and disproportionate. Shame! Change it immediately,” Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawahar Sircar said on Twitter sharing two different images of the national emblem.
Historian S. Irfan Habib also reacted to the national emblem unveiled atop the new Parliament building. “Meddling with our national emblem was totally unnecessary and avoidable. Why should our lions look ferocious and full of angst? These are Ashoka’s lions adapted by independent India in 1950,” Mr. Habib said. “From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs. This is Modi’s new India,” senior lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan said.
Here are some reactions on Twitter:
From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs.
This is Modi's new India! pic.twitter.com/cWAduxPlWR— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 12, 2022
To completely change the character and nature of the lions on Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath is nothing but a brazen insult to India’s National Symbol! pic.twitter.com/JJurRmPN6O
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 12, 2022
Lions of our National Emblem had a royal smile and generosity through the 70 years but now, the fascist regime has turned it into anger, hatred and violence. pic.twitter.com/rxYSp61pNH
— United With Congress (@UWCforYouth) July 12, 2022
The four lions on the Ashoka National Emblem symbolized power, courage, pride, and confidence but now changed to fanged, terrifying, preying lions and this signals a dangerous time ahead.
