Samajwadi Party MP Wants 'Monarchy Symbol' Sengol Replaced With Constitution In Parliament | ABP News

As President Droupadi Murmu arrived at the Parliament to address a joint session on Thursday, she was led into the House by an official carrying the 'sengol', the gold-plated sceptre installed near the Speaker's chair when the new Parliament House was inaugurated last year. However, the artefact has irked some MPs, who say the sceptre symbolises monarchy, and has no place in a democracy. The sengol is five feet long and has Nandi, Lord Shiva’s sacred bull, carved on the top. 'Sengol' comes from the Tamil word 'semmai', which means righteousness. It was originally handed over by Lord Mountbatten to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to commemorate the country's Independence. Historically, it symbolised transfer of power during the Chola empire.