If water lily is not allowed, sheaf of paddy should be barred too: Sarjis

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the northern region, has questioned the selective disqualification of national symbols as political party emblems, stating that if the water lily (Shapla) is not permitted as a political symbol, then the sheaf of paddy (Dhaner Shish) should also be barred.

In a post on his verified Facebook page late Wednesday night, Sarjis argued that several widely used political symbols, including the sheaf of paddy, jute leaf, and star, are integral parts of national identity. “If Shapla, our national flower, cannot be used as a party symbol, then neither should Dhaner Shish or any other national element,” he wrote.

He further noted that there is no legal barrier to using Shapla as a political emblem, emphasizing that the jackfruit the national fruit is already in use as a registered party symbol.

“If the concern is about the symbolic implications, then it should be addressed transparently,” he added. “Say it clearly if certain symbols are feared but don’t selectively apply rules.”

Sarjis’s remarks come amid ongoing political and legal discussions about the appropriateness of using national symbols as electoral emblems.