Rana Sanga Controversy: Ramji Lal Suman, MP of Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh in Rajya Sabha, made a controversial remark in the House about legendary Rajput warrior Rana Sanga, which ignited a burning nationwide political storm with the name of Rajasthan. His comment – uttered during a stormy hour debate in Rajya Sabha on Friday – has drawn criticism from leaders of both BJP and Congress, forging a rare emotional bipartisan outrage. Among those criticizing the remarks were Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and several others who charges Suman of putting down a very sacred historical figure by using it politically.
The probe all started with a comment from Suman, that seemed to be an indirect reference to the BJP. “BJP leaders keep saying Muslims have Babur’s DNA. So whose DNA do Hindus have? Who brought Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga who invited Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.” The statement, indicating that Rana Sanga, one of the celebrated figures in Rajasthan’s history, was responsible for Babur coming to India, is now raising a storm across the state. From political corridors to the streets, the remark has struck a raw nerve in a region that prides itself on its warrior heritage.
BJP Leaders Slam SP MP, Demand Apology
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma was retaliated promptly with a sharp rebuttal: “Rajasthan is a land of courage where our sons lay down their lives for the motherland. The Samajwadi party MP’s vile remarks on the great warrior of Mewar, Rana Sanga, do not only hurt 8 crore people of Rajasthan; it is a wound on the entire nation,” Sharma added. Continuing with his tirade, he accused opposition leaders of resorting to “vote-bank appeasement” by maligning the memories of historic figures. “Rana Sanga bore 80 wounds fighting the Mughals. Calling him a traitor shows their small-mindedness; Rana Sanga should be held in high regard instead. I demand SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to take action against Suman or apologize,” he asserted.
Deputy CM Diya Kumari echoed Sharma’s words on X platform while giving a detailed account of the Rana Sanga legacy. Kumari quoted: “The tales of valor have reverberated through the soil of Rajasthan. Children idolize his bravado. To call a patriot who fought with 80 wounds a traitor is an insult to him and the sacrifices for our country.” Kumari further called Suman’s words “shameful” and insisted on an apology. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, meanwhile, did not mince words in his critique of the SP leader – “Such narrow-minded people, ignorant of history and disrespectful to our traditions, dare to mock Rana Sanga. He must apologize,” Shekhawat demanded.
Udaipur and Rajsamand MPs- Mannalal Rawat and Mahima Kumari- joined the chorus. Mahima Kumari accused the SP leaders of purportedly glorifying foreign invaders to win favors from the voters; while Rawat called the remark “utterly shameful.”
Congress Joins the Fray, Calls for Action
In a strange turn of events, Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas lent credence to the BJP’s position, telegraphing the bipartisan backlash even further. “Sixty wounds on his body, yet no pain in his heart-Le R Rajputana gave his life for the motherland. Unparliamentary comment of Suman is unforgivable,” he posted on X. Beyond asking for an apology, he demanded the central government bring in a parliamentary resolution to strip membership from those who disrespect historical figures. “This is an attack on our pride and valor,” he said.
The political solidarity across the party lines only attests to the extent of emotional resonance Rana Sanga has in Rajputana history. The controversy is morphing into a larger debate surrounding historical respect and political accountability, as leaders frame Suman’s statement as an “insult” of sort to national pride. As the furor intensifies, eyes are now on how Akhilesh Yadav and SP would respond over the growing calls for apology and action against their MP. For the moment, the political temperature in Rajasthan shows little sign of calming down.
