Call for National Commission to Review Colonial Symbols in India
Demand for a National Commission
New Delhi, August 5 - During a session in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, a member from the BJP urged the establishment of a national commission to conduct a thorough review of colonial symbols, monuments, and outdated laws. Dinesh Sharma, the BJP member, made this request through a special mention, highlighting that even after years of independence, India has not fully shed its colonial mindset.
He stated, “Many countries around the world have long removed symbols of colonial mentality. For instance, Poland and the Baltic nations have dismantled communist and Soviet symbols from public spaces, while China has erased every trace of Japanese invaders, teaching in their curriculum that Japan was an aggressor.” Sharma pointed out that major roads in Delhi are still named after invaders, such as Akbar Road, Babur Road, Humayun Road, and Tughlaq Road.
He emphasized that numerous brave soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj, along with figures like Rani Lakshmibai, Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqulla Khan, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Rana Pratap, and Birsa Munda, deserve recognition. He remarked, “The continued use of colonial terminology like ‘My Lord’ in our judicial system reflects our mental subjugation. To overcome this, I propose that the government form a national commission to thoroughly review our colonial symbols, monuments, and irrelevant laws.”
Sharma also suggested that educational curricula and museums should refer to these invaders as aggressors rather than rulers, and that all monuments named after them should be removed.
Concerns Over Rising Racism Against Indians Abroad
In a separate special mention, BJP's Ashok Kumar Mittal raised concerns regarding the increasing racial attacks on Indians living abroad. He noted that millions of individuals from Punjab and other regions travel overseas each year in search of a brighter future, questioning the safety of Indian citizens in those countries.
Mittal cited several incidents and called for the creation of effective legislation. He stressed the need for a robust legal framework that would ensure immediate legal assistance, financial support, and guarantees of justice and safe return during crises for Indians abroad.
Financial Aid for Flood-Affected Areas in Jammu and Kashmir
Additionally, BJP's Satpal Sharma, through a special mention, requested special central financial assistance for flood-affected regions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Members from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Sant Balveer Singh, along with BJP's Babubhai Jesangbhai Desai, Maya Narolia, nominated Satnam Singh Sandhu, and independent Karthikeya Sharma, also raised their respective issues through special mentions.