Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 30 minutes at the beginning of Friday’s proceedings as BJP MPs demanded an apology from Samajwadi Party’s (SP) Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman for his remarks on Rajput king Rana Sanga.
As the day started, the BJP MPs were up on their feet shouting slogans. Chairman Jadeep Dhankhar, Union ministers and senior leaders from the opposition Congress later weighed in on the issue, with Dhankhar censuring Suman and calling the ruler a symbol of “patriotism”.
On March 21, Suman had said on the floor of the House: “Indian Muslims do not consider Babur their idol. They follow the Prophet and the Sufi tradition. But 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 the traitor Rana Sanga. We criticise Babur, but why don’t we criticise Rana Sanga?”
These remarks ignited a controversy, with Suman’s house in Agra being attacked by members of the Karni Sena.
On Friday, Suman rose to speak as Dhankhar gave him the floor, but BJP MPs drowned him out. With the slogan-shouting not stopping, the Chairman adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.
Calling Sanga a symbol of chivalry, patriotism and nationalism, Dhankhar said Suman’s remarks were highly disparaging, objectionable and painful.
Dhankhar said: “There is always an occasion when we are carried away by emotion, we must rectify. But I wish to make it very clear, the sentiments of the people are very precious.”
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He said on Thursday certain remarks made on the issue were expunged as they were outrageous and unexpected of a member of the House.
On Thursday, Suman and his party colleague Javed Ali Khan had sought suspension of the business of the day to take up a discussion over the vandalism at Agra. The notices were rejected, following which opposition MPs walked out.
Dhankhar said even though the remarks were expunged from the records, they had already got traction on social media.
“Rana Sanga was such a venerable figure… he lost his one hand, his one leg, he lost half of his body fighting valiantly. A symbol of chivalry, symbol of patriotism, symbol of nationalism and to the last drop in his body, he fought,” he said. “I would urge everyone, we have heroes all over. We have Shivaji, we have Rana Sanga, we have Maharana Pratap, a number of them and in every community. We have Birsa Munda,” he said.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Suman’s statement was highly condemnable and an insult to the country.
Speaking after him, Kharge said he fully endorses the sentiments expressed by the Chair and that he and his party respects each and every patriot who fought for the country. But, no one can take law and order in their own hands and vandalise property. “Such anti-Dalit actions will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
BJP’s Radha Mohan Das Agrawal said that Suman was unapologetic and attacked Kharge for injecting “Dalit politics” into the issue.
Kharge responded: “We respect Rana Sanga, Maharana Pratap and all those who laid down their lives for the country. Where is any disagreement or objection on this. But, one cannot send bulldozers or threaten to harm family.”
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Rijiju said no one is justifying violence, but to say that Suman’s house was attacked because he was Dalit is condemnable. “You are in a way endorsing what he has said,” he said, demanding an apology.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Suman’s statement was condemnable and his repeating it is doubly condemnable. “Equally condemnable is the Leader of Opposition’s attempt to give a caste twist to the issue,” he said.
Dhankhar termed as a serious development Suman standing by his statement. Highly objectionable observations have been reiterated, he said. “I would want this House to unanimously endorse that as members of this House we will maintain the highest rectitude when it comes to sensitive issues,” he said.
On remarks being circulated even if they are expunged due to technology, he said the Committee of Ethics, headed by Ghanshyam Tiwari, will engage into wider consultations to evolve a code of conduct for MPs when speaking on sensitive issues.