Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramji Lal Suman’s comments about Rajput king Rana Sanga in Parliament have caused a stir, eliciting strong condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a debate regarding the Home Ministry, the Rajya Sabha MP labeled the 16th-century Rajput king a “traitor”, sparking a political uproar.
Suman expressed this comment while refuting the BJP’s claims regarding the historical background of Indian Muslims. He stated, “BJP leaders frequently assert that Muslims possess the DNA of Babur. However, Indian Muslims do not regard Babur as their role model. Actually, who introduced Babur to India? Rana Sanga was the one who called upon him to conquer Ibrahim Lodi. Following that reasoning, if you assert that Muslims are the descendants of Babur, then you must also consider yourself a descendant of Rana Sanga—a traitor. We criticize Babur, yet not Rana Sanga.”
His remarks provoked a strong backlash from the BJP, with ex-MP Sanjeev Balyan denouncing it as an affront to Rajputs.
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“Shame on you for exceeding all boundaries of appeasement. Labeling the esteemed warrior Rana Sanga a traitor in Parliament is a serious affront to the Rajput community and the whole Hindu society,” Balyan stated on social media, posting a video snippet of Suman’s speech.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari connected Suman’s comments to a larger effort to glorify contentious historical personalities. “Certain individuals are attempting to portray Aurangzeb as a hero. Those individuals should be recognized. He was an enemy of the nation. We have never claimed that Muslims are the offspring of Babur. The Muslims in this nation belong to us,” he stated.
BJP MP PP Chaudhary reiterated that Suman’s remarks were “unacceptable.” He stated, “The remark made by the Samajwadi Party MP regarding Mewar’s courageous warrior has disrespected our history. Words like these in the holy temple of democracy are deeply condemnable and intolerable.”
