Opposition, activists object to muscular, aggressive lions in nationwide emblem

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Opposition members and activists amongst others on Tuesday accused the federal government of distorting the nationwide emblem by changing the “graceful and regally confident” Ashokan lions with these having menacing and aggressive posture and sought rapid change.

“Narendra Modi Ji, please observe the face of the Lion, whether or not it’s representing the statue of Great Sarnath or a distorted model of GIR lion.

Please verify it and if it wants, mend the identical, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress within the Lok Sabha, stated on Twitter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday unveiled the solid of the nationwide emblem atop the brand new Parliament constructing within the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

Opposition had hit out at Modi flouting constitutional norms and never inviting opposition leaders for the occasion.

“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 stated on Twitter sharing two totally different photographs of the nationwide emblem. Historian S Irfan Habib additionally objected to the nationwide emblem unveiled atop the brand new Parliament constructing.

“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,” Habib stated.

“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 stated.