Controversy Over Aggressive Lions In National Emblem

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What has happened?

On Monday (July 11) morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the new Parliament building.
Work is underway to meet the October-November 2022 deadline for completion of the work.
A new controversy erupted, this time over the facial expression of lions on it.

While, the ceremony triggered a political row with opposition parties accusing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making it a “personal event holding ceremonies of one particular religion,”
Yesterday, Opposition members and activists among others accused the government of “distorting” the “National Emblem” by replacing the “graceful and regally confident” Ashoka lions with those having “menacing and aggressive posture”.

Cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the new Parliament building, the 5-metre-high National Emblem is made of bronze, & weighs 9,500 kg.
A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the Emblem.
The concept sketch and process of casting of the National Emblem
on the roof of the building went through eight different stages of preparation from clay modelling/ computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing, officials said.

According to detractors, not only are the lions more “muscular” but also a closer look reveals a certain “aggression” in their facial appearance, Whereas the original ones had a “controlled regal look” about them.
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJP said 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”.

The National Emblem represents the seal of the Republic of India which was adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar that is based in Uttar Pradesh’s Sarnath. India adopted it as the Emblem on 26 January 1950.
The motto of the Indian National Emblem is Truth Alone Triumphs, or what is referred to as Satyamev Jayate.
Slogan ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is a quote from the Mundaka Upanishad, the closing part of the holy Hindu Vedas.

Animals on National Emblem thus are 4 Asiatic lions, an elephant, a bull and a horse.
In the National emblem, accepted by the Government of India, only three lions are noticeable, the fourth lion is hidden from view as it is seated back.

Speaker Om Birla said on Monday that the new Parliament building will “most likely be completed in time by October-November 2022”, in time to hold the winter session this year, to coincide with 75th year of India’s independence.
The new Parliament building project was awarded to Tata Projects for Rs 971 crore.
The estimated project cost has shot up by nearly 24 per cent to about Rs 1,200 crore due to additional works, changes in construction plan, and pandemic-related delays.

Q) Which one of the following states does not have the Indian Elephant as its State animal?