New Delhi- In a statement issued by the government, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan has strongly condemned the remarks of Samajwadi Party MP R.K. Chaudhary regarding the Sengol.

Dr. Murugan said that the Sengol is a symbol of justice for all, it reflects an equal and fair government. He also slammed the opposition for having no respect for the Sengol.

The minister said that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders have no respect for the Sengol and their attitude is condemnable.

The ongoing debate over 'sengol', a handcrafted, gold-plated sceptre about 5-feet long, was triggered by MP RK Chaudhary's letter to Speaker Om Birla. The MP from Mohanlalganj has said the 'sengol' must be replaced by a copy of the Constitution.

"The adoption of the Constitution marked the beginning of democracy in the country, and the Constitution is its symbol. The BJP government in its last term installed 'sengol' next to the Speaker's chair. Sengol is a Tamil word that means sceptre. Rajdand also means the king's stick. We have become independent after the age of kings. Now, every man and woman who is an eligible voter chooses the government to run this country. So will the country run by Constitution or by a king's stick?" he told news agency ANI. 

The former Uttar Pradesh minister demanded that the 'sengol' be replaced by a copy of the Constitution to "save democracy"