In the wake of an aggressive backlash for his comments on the 16th-century Rajput king Rana Sanga, Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman has approached the Allahabad High Court seeking security measures. The petition follows an incident last month where his residence in Agra was reportedly attacked by members of the Karni Sena.
The controversy began when Suman, in a Parliamentary session on March 21, remarked that Rana Sanga had invited Mughal emperor Babur to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. He further argued that if Indian Muslims are labeled descendants of Babur, then by similar logic, others could be seen as descendants of Rana Sanga, whom he termed a “traitor.”
These statements sparked immediate uproar among Rajput communities, leading to a vehement protest by groups such as the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha and the Karni Sena. The latter is alleged to have vandalized Suman’s house on March 26, demanding an apology for the disparaging remarks.
In his petition, Suman recounted the attack and expressed fears of further aggression, citing threats from the Karni Sena that a more severe attack would occur on April 12 unless he apologized. In response to the perceived inaction by local authorities and continuous threats, Suman has pleaded with the high court to grant him official security to safeguard against potential harm.
Despite reaching out to President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Suman claimed that his requests for security had not been addressed, prompting his legal action.
