Hathras: The All India Kshatriya Mahasabha led a strong protest in Hathras against Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman’s controversial statement on Rajput ruler Rana Sanga. The protesters, enraged by Suman’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha, burned his effigy at Sasni Gate crossing and raised slogans, demanding an apology.
The Mahasabha condemned the MP’s statement as an “insult to Hindu society and Sanatan Dharma.” A large number of members, including National General Secretary Matendra Singh Gehlot, Munna Singh Pundir, Joginder Singh, Gaurav Pradhan, and Harish Sengar, participated in the demonstration. Leaders of the Rajput community warned that Suman would have to face political consequences for his comments.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swarn Parishad (National Gold Council) also staged a protest at Bhagat Singh Park on Agra Road. Led by City President Sandeep Tiwari, the protesters demanded that Suman issue an apology in Parliament. They warned that if he failed to do so, the Samajwadi Party would face voter backlash in the 2027 elections. Prominent members of the Parishad, including District Vice President Gaurav Upadhyay, City General Secretary Arjun Prajapati, City Movement Chief Captain Baghel, and City Minister Neeraj Kushwaha, were present at the demonstration.
The controversy erupted on March 21 when Ramji Lal Suman, during a session in the Rajya Sabha, questioned the historical narrative around Babur and Rana Sanga. He stated, “Indian Muslims do not consider Babur their idol. They follow Prophet Muhammad and the Sufi tradition. But I want to ask, who brought Babur here? It was Rana Sanga who invited Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. So, if Muslims are called the descendants of Babur, then Hindus must be the descendants of traitor Rana Sanga. We criticise Babur, but why don’t we criticise Rana Sanga?”
Suman’s comments sparked outrage, with right-wing groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Karni Sena condemning him. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat of the BJP criticized the statement, calling it an example of “trivial intellect” and a “small heart.”
Despite the backlash, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Suman, arguing that history should be discussed openly. He remarked, “Everyone is flipping through the pages of history. If Ramji Lal Suman has referred to a page that contains certain facts, what’s the issue? We didn’t write history 200 years ago.”
A four-time Lok Sabha MP and a key Dalit leader, Suman has been instrumental in the Samajwadi Party’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy to expand its voter base beyond Muslims and Yadavs. He has been one of Akhilesh Yadav’s most trusted leaders and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha last year as part of this outreach.
In October 2024, Suman had also stirred controversy by moving a Private Members’ Bill seeking to restore minority status to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). His political career, spanning over five decades, includes being a Union Minister and representing Firozabad in Parliament multiple times since 1977.
