Tue Mar 25 07:14:55 UTC 2025: ## Rajasthan Erupts in Row Over Samajwadi Party Leader’s Remarks on Rana Sanga

**Udaipur, Rajasthan —** A major political controversy has erupted in Rajasthan following comments made by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman about Rana Sanga, the revered 16th-century ruler of Mewar. Suman alleged that Rana Sanga collaborated with Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, to defeat the Lodhi kings, a claim vehemently rejected by historians and Rajasthan’s political establishment.

The remarks, made during a Rajya Sabha debate and in a previously circulated video, have sparked widespread outrage. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the statements as an affront to the sentiments of the people of Rajasthan, where Rana Sanga and his grandson, Rana Pratap, are iconic figures. Protests have ensued in Udaipur, the former capital of Mewar, with the right-wing Karni Sena even issuing threats against Suman.

The controversy has spilled into the Rajasthan Assembly, where BJP MLAs demanded action against Suman, leading to clashes with Congress MLAs. Several BJP leaders, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, have denounced Suman’s comments as a distortion of history and an insult to a national hero. They highlighted Rana Sanga’s significant victories against Babur and other invaders.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav responded by accusing the BJP of selectively using history for political gain, drawing parallels to historical controversies surrounding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Galileo Galilei. He questioned the BJP’s selective outrage.

Historians have also refuted Suman’s claim, citing historical sources that indicate Babur was invited by Daulat Khan Lodhi, not Rana Sanga. They point to Rana Sanga’s battles against Babur, including a decisive victory at Bayana in 1527, as evidence contradicting Suman’s narrative. The neglect of the Bayana battlefield, a site of historical significance, further underscores the irony of the current political debate. The incident highlights the sensitive nature of historical narratives and their role in contemporary Indian politics.

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