Attack on MP Ramji Lal Suman: A Threat to Democracy
The recent attack on the residence and properties of Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman in Agra by Karni Sena is a brazen assault on democracy and the rule of law. This mob violence was incited by Suman’s speech in Parliament on March 21, where he posed a rhetorical question about whether Rana Sanga should be considered a “traitor” for inviting Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodhi. Regardless of the accuracy of his historical claim, the appropriate response should have been a debate within Parliament—not violence and intimidation on the streets.
Free Speech Under Attack
Unfortunately, Karni Sena chief Mahipal Makrana escalated tensions by declaring that the Agra attack was just a “trailer” and that further action would follow unless Suman issued an apology. Such open threats undermine free speech and attempt to suppress elected representatives through fear. In a democracy, disagreements must be resolved through discussion, not through coercion or violence.
The Debate Over Rana Sanga’s Legacy
The historical debate over Rana Sanga’s role is for scholars, not mobs, to resolve. Babur’s memoirs, the Baburnama, refer to Rana Sanga as the “greatest Indian king” and mention interactions between them. However, historians remain divided on whether these interactions make Rana Sanga a traitor. What is beyond dispute is that he was a formidable ruler who controlled vast territories across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and parts of Uttar Pradesh. He inflicted significant defeats on Ibrahim Lodhi before Babur ultimately triumphed at Panipat due to his superior military technology. These are academic discussions, not grounds for violent retribution.
Political Exploitation of Historical Controversies
Rather than curbing such violent tendencies, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has frequently exacerbated them. His inflammatory rhetoric, including statements about demolishing mosques allegedly built over temples and suggesting that Muslims can live only at the mercy of Hindus, is deeply troubling. He often boasts that no riots have occurred under his leadership, implying that his party alone can maintain law and order. However, this dangerously suggests that violence is inevitable in the presence of political opposition, ignoring the fundamental fact that maintaining peace is the duty of the state—not a political tool for electoral gains.
The Need to End Mob Justice
Groups like Karni Sena have repeatedly engaged in vigilante violence, whether attacking filmmakers or targeting individuals for perceived insults to historical figures. Such caste-based militia groups must be disbanded, as they have no place in a constitutional democracy. India is not a feudal state where mobs dictate justice. If those in power encourage, tolerate, or fail to act against such groups, they risk eroding the very foundation of democracy. As the saying goes, if the fence itself starts eating the crops, what hope remains for the harvest?
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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