Roaring controversy over lions in national emblem

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the cast of the national emblem atop the new Parliament building, there is a roaring controversy: over how the lions in it look.

Opposition members and activists accused the government of distorting the national symbol. They say the lions in the new cast look unnecessarily "aggressive and muscular". And that they are seen with their teeth bared.

Opposition members point out that the lions in the national emblem - adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath - are not seen snarling. They called those lions "graceful and regally confident".

Opposition members also tweeted out pictures of the two, the emblem and the new version, side by side. They took jibes at PM Narendra Modi, saying the calm expression in the original was meant to convey peace.

The designers of the new version told TV channels that the differences are minor and that there is no change in the character of the lions. BJP leaders who responded said it was unnecessary to try and drag the PM into every controversy.