NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman, who is currently facing backlash for his remarks on Rajput ruler Rana Sanga, refused to backdown on his comments saying, “there is nothing to apologise for.”
In an interview with PTI, Suman said that “people should develop a habit of listening to the right things” and firmly declared, “I will not apologise in this life.”
Suman’s remarks, captured on video, described Rana Sanga as a “traitor” who invited Mughal emperor Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.
Defending his remarks, he said, “It is a historical fact that Rana Sanga brought Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodhi. They had an understanding that Babur would attack Ibrahim Lodhi, and Rana Sanga would attack Agra. Rana Sanga did not keep his part of the deal.”
“Later, Babur and Rana Sanga fought against each other in Fatehpur Sikri, and Rana Sanga fought with great bravery but lost the battle. This is a fact,” he added.
The SP MP also cited historical sources, including “Baburnama” and Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Discovery of India,” to support his claim.
“There is a big historian Puniyani, Baburnama, and as far as I remember, Jawaharlal Nehru has mentioned it in Discovery of India too… As I said, this is historic and I am ready to confirm it,” he told PTI.
The remarks led to a violent backlash. On Wednesday, a mob reportedly linked to Karni Sena vandalised Suman’s residence near Hari Parvat Chauraha, damaging parked cars and breaking glass windows. Videos showed a small number of police officers attempting to control the situation as the attackers rampaged. One policeman was injured during the violence.
FIR registered against ‘unknown mob’
Suman alleged that the attack was a direct threat to his family. “They broke all the glass windows, destroyed the cars in the colony, and their intent was to harm my family. I had already informed the Rajya Sabha Chairman about threats being made against me since March 22 through social media,” he said, adding that the attackers even arrived with a bulldozer.
Also read: ‘Just a trailer,’ says Karni Sena leader on vandalising Samajwadi MP’s house over Rana Sanga remark
Following the incident, Agra police registered an FIR against an “unknown mob” under charges including rioting, attempted murder, house trespass, and robbery, as per ANI. SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, who visited Suman, claimed the attack was pre-planned and accused the administration of inaction despite prior warnings. “The attackers came with bulldozers, sticks, and swords, yet they were not stopped. This suggests they had government backing,” Yadav alleged.
Opposition stages walkout in Rajya Sabha
The political fallout intensified, with SP, Congress, and other opposition parties staging a walkout in the Rajya Sabha to protest the attack. They demanded a discussion on the matter, but Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar declined to suspend the day’s proceedings. Opposition leaders criticised the BJP government for failing to prevent the violence.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath of complicity. “Ramji Lal Suman is a Dalit MP with vast experience. His house was attacked while the Chief Minister was in the same district. This could not have happened without his consent,” he claimed. He also criticised the BJP for allegedly distorting history for political gain.