Row Over National Emblem Cast Unveiled By PM, Designers Say "No Deviation"

Sunil Deore and Romiel Moses, designers of the emblem atop the new parliament building, stressed that there is "no deviation"

The national emblem unveiled atop the new parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked a huge controversy. Opposition parties have questioned why the Prime Minister, as head of the Executive, unveiled the emblem. They have also said that the emblem has been modified and "insulted". The designers of the massive sculpture, however, have claimed that there is "no deviation" मूल कृति के चेहरे पर सौम्यता का भाव तथा अमृत काल में बनी मूल कृति की नक़ल के चेहरे पर इंसान, पुरखों और देश का सबकुछ निगल जाने की आदमखोर प्रवृति का भाव मौजूद है।हर प्रतीक चिन्ह इंसान की आंतरिक सोच को प्रदर्शित करता है। इंसान प्रतीकों से आमजन को दर्शाता है कि उसकी फितरत क्या है। pic.twitter.com/EaUzez104N 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 new Parliament building — snarling, unnecessarily aggressive and disproportionate. Shame! Change it immediately! pic.twitter.com/luXnLVByvP pic.twitter.com/CHhKM66bl3

Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal tweeted that the lions in the national emblem are known to have a mild expression, but those on the new sculpture appear to have a "man-eater tendency".

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Modi's "Amrit kaal" remark, the RJD's official handle tweeted in Hindi, "The original emblem has a mild expression, but those built during Amrit Kaal show a man-eater's tendency to consume everything in the country."