New Delhi (Agency): Trinamool Congress member and RTI activist Saket Gokhale was one amongst several opposition leaders who slammed PM Narendra Modi and the government for their choice of a traditional Manipur headgear for the new Indian’ touch parliament uniforms.
Parliament employees will be seen wearing new uniforms from next week. The staff will shift to the new building, at Rafi Marg, on September 19, which is Ganesh Chaturthi. However, the five-day special session will start on September 18.
News agency ANI shared images of what the staff members will look like in the new uniforms. Chamber Attendants, all Officers, Security personnel, Drivers and Marshals will wear khaki-colored pants, Nehru jackets, cotton sarees, kurta pajamas, and others, according to ANI.
The uniform, per reports, also includes traditional Manipur headgear ‘Kokyet’. Gokhale, who is a Rajya Sabha member, slammed the government, describing the gesture as ‘tokenism’.
He is referring to the ethnic violence in the northeastern state of Manipur that has claimed more than 168 lives and displaced about 50,000 people.
“As part of the new Parliament uniform, Marshals will reportedly be wearing headgear from Manipur. How shameless is PM Modi that he thinks this tokenism exempts him from speaking on Manipur or taking any action to stop the carnage that’s going on?
Failure to protect lives of tribals & women in Manipur is compensated by an introducing a headgear in a uniform?” Gokhale tweeted.
“Not just insensitive but also shows how little Modi cares beyond his self PR,” the TMC leader added.
The reported lotus design on the magenta or deep pink Nehru jacket has also sparked controversy.
Congress’ Manickam Tagore said that instead of a lotus, the designs could have peacock or tiger – as both are national symbols.
Lotus also happens to be the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party’s election symbol.
Opposing the move, Congress’ Manickam Tagore said that instead of a lotus, the designs could have national symbols like peacock and tiger.
The new parliament building will have the capacity to host meetings of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 in the Rajya Sabha. A joint session of both houses will be held in the Lok Sabha Chamber. (Courtesy: (Courtesy: Times Now)
