India News
Sengol: The emblem of Independence and India’s Chola dynasty heritage
Sengol is a golden sceptre is some 76 years old. The British handed over the Sengol to Indian leaders to marks the transition of power from Britain to newly-independent Indians.

By Pratik Agrawal
The inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday has already become a controversy with at least 19 opposition parties objecting over the decision and choosing to boycott the event.
The Narendra Modi-led government today has announced the installation of the Sengol, a Chola staff or sceptre, in the new Parliament marking it as a highlight of a often forgotten episode in India’s history.
The step taken by the Union government has not just put the spotlight on the Chola dynasty but has zeroed in on the old rulers of Tamil country. After its defeat in Karnataka, the BJP lost its lone hold in South India.
The decision to install the Sengol, which traces its origin to the Chola dynasty, is being seen as the BJP’s attempt to appeal to Tamils and create fresh influence for the party among the state’s voters.
What’s the Sengol?
Sengol is a golden sceptre is some 76 years old. The British handed over the Sengol to Indian leaders to marks the transition of power from Britain to newly-independent Indians.
Months before the people of the country were to listen to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny speech, the last Viceroy of India, Lord Loius Mountbatten, asked Nehru a question that baffled him.
Mountbatten asked Nehru how would he symbolize India’s attaining independence. Puzzled, Nehru could not think of anything better than to seek the advice of C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, the first and last Indian Governor-General.
Rajaji, an erudite scholar of history, customs and civilisation, suggested to Nehru that during the Chola dynasty in Tamil tradition, the high priest (Rajaguru) of the state would hand over a sceptre to the new king during his coronation, symbolising his assumption of regal office.
Nehru warmed to Rajaji’s suggestion that a sceptre be handed to him to mark the change in one’s destiny from being a subject of the British king to a free, independent leader of India. He assigned the task to Rajaji to arrange such a sceptre.
Rajaji then contacted Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam, the prominent mutt in Mayiladuthurai, the heartland of the Chola dynasty. The 20th Guru Sri La Sri Ambalavana Desika Swamigal, then seer of the mutt, took over the responsibility for making the golden sceptre despite his ill-health.
The seer assigned the task to Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers in Madras (now Chennai). The owner, Vummidi Bangaru, was entrusted with the job due to his expertise. Finally, the Sengol studded with jewels was ready with a bull (nandi) on top as a symbol of strength, truth and righteousness. The Sengol cost Rs 15,000 back then.

The seer sent a delegation from the mutt on a special plane arranged by the government to Delhi with the Sengol. He also sent a congratulatory note to Nehru with the delegation.
The Sengol was then taken to Mountbatten, who handed it back to the team, led by Sri La Sri Kumaraswamy Thambiran, whence Ganga water was sprinkled on it and was handed over to Nehru in a procession.
Finally on August 14, 1947 at 11:45 PM, exactly 15 minutes before India attained Independence and Nehru started his historic address, Tryst with Destiny, the delegation presented the Sengol to Nehru in the presence of Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President.

Sengol was presented with the chanting of the Kolaru Pathigam by Manickam Odhuvaar and Nadaswaram played by TN Rajarathinam. Kolaru Pathigam are hymns from Thevaram, originally composed by Shaivite saint Thirugnana Sambandar.
The Sengol not only marked India’s Independence, but also marked the birth of the nation as a union of the North and the South.
India News
Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary compares Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Osama Bin Laden, says one cannot become the PM just by growing beard
Choudhary’s comments came months after former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra sported a beard

BJP’s Bihar unit chief Samrat Chaudhary was addressing a public rally in Bihar’s Araria district when he compared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with slain terrorist former Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and said Rahul Gandhi cannot become the Prime Minister of the India just by growing a beard.
Choudhary’s comments came months after former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra sported a beard. The BJP leader also slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that he is going around the country telling everyone that he is the Prime Minister of the country. He said Kumar has lost his mental balance.
He commented on the opposition’s inability to select a Prime Ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He said kumar’s mental state resembled the character of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in the film Ghajini. A meting of opposition parties is going to take place in Patna to chalk out a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and fight united against the BJP.
A range of senior opposition leaders like Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and others are going to be a part of the meeting.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma had made similar comments on Rahul Gandhi’s look. He had made a comparison of Gandhi with Saddam Hussein and advised him to shave his beard so that he could look like former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Meanwhile Choudhary said, if BJP government is formed in Bihar action will be taken against those involved in cow slaughter. Continuing on his remarks on Gandhi Choudhary said Gandhi is a child and even questioned his political acumen.
He said although Rahul is 50 years old he lacks the political intelligence comparing him with a child having intellectual capacity of a child. Choudhary even addressed the issue of love Jihad. He said, if BJP government comes to power in Bihar, love jihadists will be identified and prosecuted.
He said, the BJP stressed on identifying and deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators from across the border.
India News
Gurugram Police arrests couple who used Bumble to honey trap for extortion
The unusual case required different techniques to crack this case, the Police laid a trap and arrested the man red-handed from Moulsari market near sai temple while taking the remaining amount and also recovered Rs 50,000 which was earlier extorted by the duo criminals. After Phogat’s disclosure, police nabbed the woman from U-Block of DLF Phase-3 in Gurugram on Wednesday.

An interesting case of honey trap has surfaced, when Gurugram Police arrested a man and a woman who were involved in extorting money from another man. The victim had filed a complained at DLF Phase-3 Police Station on Wednesday.
The accused have been identified as Benita Kumari and Mahesh Phogat.
As per the Gurugram Police, the victim met the Kumari on the Bumble App(a dating app). They decided to meet in a hotel located in Sector-23, Gurugram on May 28, the woman encouraged the victim for booze but he refused to drink beer and came out of the hotel immediately as he realized something was wrong.
After sometime, the woman called the victim with motive to blackmail, she threatened the victim to file a false case against him based on misbehaved and molestation in Police station. Thereafter, to settle the case with the victim, she along with her companion demanded Rs 5 lakh from the victim and after negotiation it was finally settled for Rs 2 lakh.
On Wednesday, the victim gave Rs 50,000 to Phogat and assured him to give the rest of money in the evening. The victim realized he is getting trapped into something big, he went to DLF Phase-3 Police station and lodged a complaint.
The unusual case required different techniques to crack this case, the police laid a trap and arrested the man red-handed from Moulsari market near Sai temple while taking the remaining amount and also recovered Rs 50,000 which was earlier extorted by the duo criminals. After Phogat’s disclosure, police nabbed Kumari from U-Block of DLF Phase-3 in Gurugram on Wednesday.
Vikas Kaushik, ACP (DLF) said both the accused became friend in Gurugram and planned to commit crimes. The woman works as an advisor in private IT company and Mahesh other accused runs an NGO in Delhi.
Kaushik said, both of them were running this racket to cheat people through dating App. They call their targets to the hotel and blackmail them to extort money from victims. The woman has filed fake molestation and rape cases against almost five people.
India News
Wrestlers threaten Asian Games boycott if demands are not met
The protesting wrestlers held a mahapanchayat with Khap Leaders in Sonipat, Haryana today.

India’s top wrestlers have threatened that they will boycott the upcoming Asian Games if their demands are not met. 2016 Olympics Medal Winner Sakshee Malikkh said talking to the media that the people do not understand their mental state.
The protesting wrestlers held a mahapanchayat with Khap Leaders in Sonipat, Haryana today. Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia earlier had said about sharing the details of their discussion with government with the Khap leaders in the Mahapanchayat.
Malikkh further clarified that Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Malikkh stand together in their protest against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as speculations riffed up after Phogat did not attend the meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier this week. The meeting Minister Thakur took place for five hours after which the Minister presented a written proposal to the wrestlers. The proposal assured the wrestlers that there would be a thorough investigation in the matter by June 15, but did not mention anything about the arrest of the WFI chief.
It has been two months since the wrestlers have been protesting for the removal and arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Delhi Police on Friday, took a woman wrestler, accompanied by women police officers to Singh’s office as part of the investigation.
At about 1:30 pm they reached the WFI office and spent half an hour there. During this period the wrestler was asked to recreate the scene of the alleged harassment and recall the places where she was harassed.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat expressed her disappointment at the media reports that said the women wrestler had gone to the WFI office for a compromise. She tweeted that this was the power of Singh that he can harass women wrestlers use his muscle power, political power and run false narratives and can move freely in the society
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