Karni Sena holds rally at Agra in show of strength against SP MP

Agra: Thousands of Karni Sena members assembled at a protest rally on the outskirts of Agra city against Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman's remarks on Rajput king Rana Sanga, on his birth anniversary on Saturday. Besides demanding an immediate apology, the right-wing outfit listed "some key demands", including a sedition case against Suman and cancellation of his Rajya Sabha membership. Some of the protesters were carrying swords, sticks and firearms at the venue, which was about 30km from the MP's residence.

A senior police officer said that around 80,000 members arrived from parts of UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The event, which started at 1pm and concluded by 6pm, was held at Garhi Rami in Etmadpur under heavy police presence. Senior BJP leaders, including the local MP and MLA, were present on the occasion.

Addressing the large crowd at the event, titled ‘Rakt Swabhiman Sammelan', Raj Shekhawat, head of Kshatriya Karni Sena, said, "We seek an urgent apology from Suman, termination of his RS membership, sedition charges against him, demolition of his illegal properties by the state, withdrawal of cases against Karni Sena workers and immunity from any FIRs for event attendees."

BJP's Etmadpur MLA Dharampal Singh, who received a memorandum, said, "I appreciate Karni Sena and Khatriya sabhas for their peaceful protest today. District-level demands shall be addressed soon, while state and national level demands will be fulfilled subsequently."

DCP (Agra city) Sonam Kumar added, "A three-tier security plan with 24 checkpoints, anti-riot equipment, drone surveillance, 4,000 personnel and 800 strategic barriers were in place. There was no untoward incident."

Following Suman's purported remarks that "Rana Sanga invited Babur to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi", scores of Karni Sena members on March 27 vandalised the MP's house in Agra. Several cars parked outside were damaged, chairs broken and the house's glass windows shattered. Police later lodged an FIR against "unidentified persons".

Agra: Thousands of Karni Sena members assembled at a protest rally on the outskirts of Agra city against Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman's remarks on Rajput king Rana Sanga, on his birth anniversary on Saturday. Besides demanding an immediate apology, the right-wing outfit listed "some key demands", including a sedition case against Suman and cancellation of his Rajya Sabha membership. Some of the protesters were carrying swords, sticks and firearms at the venue, which was about 30km from the MP's residence.

A senior police officer said that around 80,000 members arrived from parts of UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The event, which started at 1pm and concluded by 6pm, was held at Garhi Rami in Etmadpur under heavy police presence. Senior BJP leaders, including the local MP and MLA, were present on the occasion.

Addressing the large crowd at the event, titled ‘Rakt Swabhiman Sammelan', Raj Shekhawat, head of Kshatriya Karni Sena, said, "We seek an urgent apology from Suman, termination of his RS membership, sedition charges against him, demolition of his illegal properties by the state, withdrawal of cases against Karni Sena workers and immunity from any FIRs for event attendees."

BJP's Etmadpur MLA Dharampal Singh, who received a memorandum, said, "I appreciate Karni Sena and Khatriya sabhas for their peaceful protest today. District-level demands shall be addressed soon, while state and national level demands will be fulfilled subsequently."

DCP (Agra city) Sonam Kumar added, "A three-tier security plan with 24 checkpoints, anti-riot equipment, drone surveillance, 4,000 personnel and 800 strategic barriers were in place. There was no untoward incident."

Following Suman's purported remarks that "Rana Sanga invited Babur to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi", scores of Karni Sena members on March 27 vandalised the MP's house in Agra. Several cars parked outside were damaged, chairs broken and the house's glass windows shattered. Police later lodged an FIR against "unidentified persons".