Rana Sanga Row: Akhilesh Yadav Backs Samajwadi Party MP’s ‘Traitor’ Remark Amidst Massive Backlash

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday defended his party's Rajya Sabha MP Ramjilal Suman over his controversial remark calling Rana Sanga a "traitor," stating that referencing a page in "history should not be an issue". The comments made in Parliament on March 21, triggered a political firestorm when he said that if BJP leaders can revisit history to discuss Aurangzeb.

His remarks drew strong condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rajput community leaders, who labeled the statement an "insult to history and Hindu society."

Karni Sena Protests Outside SP Office in MP

On Sunday, Karni Sena members staged a protest outside the Samajwadi Party's Madhya Pradesh office, opposing MP Ramji Lal Suman’s remarks on Rajput warrior Rana Sanga.

The right-wing outfit’s state unit also announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for anyone who blackens Suman’s face and hits him with shoes.

Meanwhile, the state unit of the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP accused the protesters of damaging party banners and posters outside its office, located in a government quarter in Bhopal’s Tulsi Nagar area.

TT Nagar police station in-charge Sudhir Arjaria told PTI that Karni Sena members burned an effigy during the protest. However, when asked about the SP’s allegations of damage to its banners and posters, he stated that no such incident had occurred.

Suman’s Controversial Statement in Parliament

On March 21, speaking during a discussion on the Home Ministry in Rajya Sabha, SP MP Ramji Lal Suman countered the BJP’s claims regarding the lineage of Indian Muslims. 

He stated, "BJP leaders often argue that Indian Muslims have the DNA of Babur. But Muslims in India do not consider Babur their ideal. In reality, who brought Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga who invited him to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. By that logic, if you claim Muslims are Babur’s descendants, then you are also the descendants of Rana Sanga—a traitor. We criticize Babur, but not Rana Sanga."

The remark quickly sparked a backlash, with BJP leaders demanding an apology from the SP, accusing Suman of disrespecting the legacy of the Rajput warrior.

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BJP Leaders Lash Out

Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized Suman’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Who brought Babur? Rana Sanga did, to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. So, Muslims are Babur’s descendants, and you are the descendants of traitor Rana Sanga? Crossing all limits of appeasement, SP MP Ramji Lal has insulted the great warrior Rana Sanga. This is a grave affront to the Rajput community and Hindu society."

Former BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan also condemned the remarks, accusing Suman of pandering to a particular community.

"Shameful—this crosses all limits of appeasement. Calling the great warrior Rana Sanga a traitor in Parliament is a serious insult to the Rajput community and Hindu society," Balyan said, sharing a video clip of Suman’s speech on social media.

Balyan also called on the Samajwadi Party to issue an apology.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused Suman of distorting history while attempting to glorify controversial historical figures.

"Some people want to make Aurangzeb a hero. Such individuals should be identified. Aurangzeb was an enemy of the country. We have never said that Muslims are Babur’s descendants. The Muslims of this country are our own," Tiwari stated.

BJP MP PP Chaudhary also slammed the remarks, calling them "unacceptable and condemnable."

"The Samajwadi Party MP’s statement against Mewar’s brave warrior is an insult to history. Such words have no place in the sacred temple of democracy," Chaudhary remarked.

Who Was Rana Sanga?

Rana Sanga, a ruler from the Sisodia dynasty, governed Mewar between 1508 and 1528. He is renowned for uniting Rajput clans against the Delhi Sultanate and defending his kingdom, which included regions of present-day Rajasthan , Gujarat , and Madhya Pradesh , with Chittor as his capital.

A key historical figure, he fiercely resisted foreign invaders, including Babur, who invaded India in 1526 and later established the Mughal Empire after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat.