Latest news with #Suheldev
The Print
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
In eastern UP, tug of war between BJP & SP over Raja Suheldev's legacy. The prize—Rajbhar votes
If voted back to power, would install a gold statue of the revered king in the heart of Lucknow, the Akhilesh Yadav-led party declared while celebrating 'Vijay Diwas (Victory Day)' in honour of Maharaja Suheldev in Lucknow. Just hours after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a grand 40-foot bronze statue of Maharaja Suheldev on a horse in Shravasti Tuesday, the Samajwadi Party (SP) made a bold announcement. Lucknow: The legacy of Maharaja Suheldev has become the latest battleground in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling and opposition parties engaging in a dramatic display of political one-upmanship to honour the 11th-century king. The announcements are widely considered strategic bids to woo the influential Rajbhar community, which considers itself the direct descendants of Maharaja Suheldev and whose members hold significant sway in the electoral landscape of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Political observers and analysts maintain that the BJP and SP moves are less about preserving history and more about votes, with both the ruling and opposition parties eyeing the crucial Rajbhar vote bank. Besides unveiling the statue, Yogi earlier this year discontinued an annual fair at the Dargah of Salar Masud Ghazi in Bahraich. Ghazi is a controversial figure in the legend of Maharaja Suheldev. The story goes that Maharaja Suheldev defeated Ghazi, but later, one of the commanders of the slain Ghazi killed Suheldev. This year, Yogi 2.0 also announced plans to rename the 1,000-year-old fair in Bahraich as 'Vijayotsava' to celebrate the victory of Suheldev, with mentions of Ghazi removed from the festivities, in a move to showcase absolute reverence for the Maharaja. Professor Kavi Raj, who is with the political science department of Lucknow University, said, 'Rajbhars are considered an important OBC (Other Backwards Classes) group. Possibly, only three percent of the UP population, Rajbhars, however, claim to have an impact in over a dozen Lok Sabha seats of eastern UP such as Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Sant Kabir Nagar, Mau, and Varanasi.' 'They can play a key role in deciding the poll outcome. That said, we may now see a divide in their votes. The Rajbhar community has kept changing sides, with both SP and BJP getting their votes at different times,' he added. Politics of Maharaja Suheldev's descendants Across at least 50 assembly seats at least, the Rajbhar community members are 12-18 percent of the voters. Currently, Yogi Adityanath already has two Rajbhar ministers, Anil Rajbhar and O.P. Rajbhar, in his cabinet. According to functionaries in the UP BJP, the party started their outreach to the community even before the 2017 assembly elections, in 2016. The then-BJP president, Amit Shah, visited Bahraich to inaugurate a Suheldev statue and urged the Rajbhars to give the BJP a chance to bring development and restore the prestige of the former royal. Later, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief O.P. Rajbhar, considered one of the most significant leaders among the Rajbhar community, allied with the BJP for the 2017 assembly polls. When the BJP won the state polls, he became a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government. The SBSP had won four of the eight seats it contested. However, the alliance split before the 2019 general elections because the BJP refused to give in to the SBSP's demand for three seats. Since going their separate ways, the BJP has intensified its Rajbhar push, not only appointing Anil Rajbhar as a minister in the Yogi government but also putting him in charge of the Ballia and Bahraich districts, which have a sizable Rajbhar presence. It has also made another community leader, Sakaldeep Rajbhar, a member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament. O.P. Rajbhar switched and allied with the SP in the 2022 assembly polls, but ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he again sealed an alliance with the BJP, with the party inducting him as a cabinet minister in March this year. During the Lok Sabha elections, SP candidate Rajeev Rai defeated O.P. Rajbhar's son, Arvind Rajbhar, in the Ghosi seat. After the victory, SP leaders claimed that a high number of Rajbhars voted for their party in the LS polls. As the political narrative around Maharaja Suheldev intensifies, what remains unknown is whether symbolic gestures will translate into electoral gains or the community will again chart its course independently. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Who is 1991 batch IPS Rajeev Krishna, UP's 5th acting DGP in a row
News18
11-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Can Maharaja Suheldev vs Gazi Salar Masud Pitch Swing 2027 UP Battle? BJP Hopes So
Last Updated: Suheldev holds symbolic value among the Rajbhar and Pasi communities, both considered crucial in eastern Uttar Pradesh's caste arithmetic Maharaja Suheldev vs Gazi Salar Masud was the underlying message as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a public gathering in Bahraich on Tuesday. On the face of it, it was a cultural event celebrating a largely folkloric warrior-king from the 11th century. But scratch the surface and political meaning emerges: the BJP, analysts say, is shaping a sharp counter-narrative to the Samajwadi Party-led PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) pitch by resurrecting historical memory loaded with communal, cultural, and caste resonances. The Suheldev Vijayotsav, marked by the unveiling of a 40-feet tall equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev at Chittora Lake, became the stage for the chief minister to launch a blistering ideological assault. Targeting the SP and Congress, Yogi accused them of appeasing 'foreign invaders" for Muslim votes and glorifying figures like Gazi Salar Masud—a medieval figure buried in Bahraich, revered by many but labelled an 'invader" by the Right-wing. In his speech, Yogi invoked Suheldev's legendary victory against Salar Masud and thanked those who stopped organising events in Masud's name. 'Bahraich should celebrate Suheldev's legacy, not that of Salar Masud. He was an invader, and a symbol of slavery," said the CM, adding that the annual fairs in honour of Masud promoted a 'ghulami ki mansikta" (slavery mindset). He also linked the issue to temple politics, asking rhetorically: 'Who were those who opposed the Ram temple in Ayodhya? Who stood against the Kashi Vishwanath corridor?" and answered it himself — 'They were the same people who praised invaders like Gazi." Yogi also oversaw the ceremonial 'ann-prashan' of five infants, all named Suheldev, in a symbolic gesture of passing heritage to the next generation. He distributed cheques of Rs5 lakh each to entrepreneurs under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana and emphasised the BJP's commitment to honouring 'real national heroes." Political analysts see more than just cultural revivalism in this script. According to Shashikant Pandey, head of department of political sciences at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 'This event was a clear attempt to polarise non-Yadav OBCs under a unifying Hindutva banner. By pitting Suheldev against Salar Masud, the BJP is aiming to split the PDA bloc — especially among Rajbhar, Pasi and other backward castes who claim Suheldev as part of their legacy." Suheldev holds symbolic value among the Rajbhar and Pasi communities, both considered crucial in eastern Uttar Pradesh's caste arithmetic. The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, is back in NDA fold after a brief SP alliance. The Suheldev vs Masud binary, political observers say, could help the BJP strengthen its hold on non-Yadav OBCs by offering a civilisational pride narrative in place of caste-based mobilisation. Rajbhar Vote A Key Target According to Pandey, the event in Bahraich carried a layered political messaging aimed at more than just countering the Samajwadi Party's PDA narrative. 'Beyond the visible cultural symbolism, this was also a strategic outreach to the Rajbhar community," he said. 'Suheldev is a revered figure among Rajbhars, and invoking him at such a grand scale is BJP's attempt to emotionally consolidate that vote bank, which has shown volatility in recent years." Pandey pointed out that there are approximately 70-80 lakh Rajbhar voters in Uttar Pradesh, spread predominantly across eastern districts such as Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Mau, Ballia, Deoria, and of course, Bahraich. 'The Rajbhars can swing the outcome in 25 to 30 assembly seats, and their alignment with SBSP under Om Prakash Rajbhar has earlier given both SP and BJP key electoral advantages," he noted. 'By placing Suheldev in direct contrast to Salar Masud, the BJP is not only reinforcing Hindu pride but also ensuring that caste pride aligns with religious and nationalist sentiment — a classic saffron strategy." Yogi Blames SP-Congress The UP CM also blamed the Samajwadi Party and Congress for turning a blind eye to 'foreign aggressors" in pursuit of Muslim votes. 'When we celebrate Sardar Patel, SP sings praises of Jinnah. When we talk about Maharaja Suheldev, they rush to talk about Gazi Miyan's marriage," said Yogi, ridiculing past efforts to promote what he termed 'appeasement politics." He thanked those who stopped events associated with Gazi Salar Masud and called for a complete halt to commemorations in the names of invaders. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear — national heroes must be honoured, not invaders," Yogi asserted. The Statue & The Symbolism The newly inaugurated bronze statue of Maharaja Suheldev — touted as India's tallest of a warrior on a rearing horse — stands at Chittora Lake, eight kilometres from Bahraich town. Sculpted by Padma Shri awardee Ram Sutar under the supervision of the UP Lalit Kala Akademi, the statue is part of a larger memorial whose foundation was laid virtually by PM Modi in February 2021. The Historical Fog Suheldev's historicity remains contested. There is little mention of him in 11th-century Persian chronicles. His tale surfaces in the 14th-century Ajaib-ul-Khusurowi by Amir Khusrau and then more prominently in the 17th-century Mirat-e-Masudi, a hagiographic account of Salar Masud. According to these sources, Suheldev was the son of King Moolraj of Shravasti and led a coalition of local rulers to resist Muslim advances in the Terai belt. The defining battle is said to have taken place near Bahraich around 1033 AD, where Suheldev defeated and killed Salar Masud. However, historians like Dr Rajkishore of Bahraich say Suheldev is more a 'hero of legend than history," with multiple castes — Rajbhars, Pasis, Bhar, even Jains — claiming him as their own. One account even suggests Suheldev adopted Jainism, possibly because Brahmin priests would not anoint kings from 'lower castes." In eastern UP's folklore, however, Suheldev is remembered as the 'defender of the land" against Islamic expansion. A Battle of Memory and Identity Tuesday's event, thus, wasn't just about remembering a long-forgotten king, but about scripting a new narrative—one where historical memory, myth, caste identity, and political ideology converge. In the run-up to the 2027 state elections, such symbolic battles over statues, festivals, and forgotten figures are likely to intensify. As one local BJP leader said off the record, 'In Purvanchal, it's not just about who votes. It's about whose story is told louder. And Suheldev is now our story." Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : BJP congress news18 specials samajwadi party Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party The UPShot UP election Yogi Adityanath Location : Lucknow, India, India First Published: June 11, 2025, 16:40 IST News elections Can Maharaja Suheldev vs Gazi Salar Masud Pitch Swing 2027 UP Battle? BJP Hopes So
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
On Suheldev's birthanniv, minister opens memorial gate
Varanasi: On the occasion of Maharaja Suheldev Rajbhar's birth anniversary, UP minister of state for stamp and court registration fees (independent charge) Ravindra Jaiswal inaugurated his memorial gate at Haveliya Chauraha in Sarnath. He used Rs 8.74 lakh from his MLA fund for the project. Speaking on the occasion, Jaiswal said that Maharaja Suheldev was a great king of Shravasti, renowned for defeating and killing Ghazi Miyan, a commander of Ghaznavi, in Bahraich in 1034. Suheldev was a king of Shravasti in 11th century, known for decisively defeating Mahmud Ghaznavi's nephew, Ghazi Syed Salar Masud, in battle. "In 1034, Suheldev's army clashed with Masud's forces. Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, Mahmud Ghaznavi's nephew, captured many parts of then-India across the Indus River. However, when he attempted to seize Bahraich, he faced Maharaja Suheldev, who defeated him and his army. Ghazi was severely injured in this battle and later died," the minister mentioned. He further stated that honouring great personalities has become the hallmark of the Yogi govt. The Yogi govt has not confined history to books but has brought it to the ground, honouring great figures, who were neglected by politics for years. Maharaja Suheldev is one of them, a warrior, who sacrificed his life to protect the nation and religion rather than bowing to foreign invaders, Jaiswal added.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opp scared of losing minority vote bank, silent on foreign invaders in past: CM Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday targeted the Opposition parties, hitting out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in particular, and claimed that 'fear of losing minority vote bank' prevented these parties from uttering a word against foreign invaders of the country in the past. Adityanath was in Bahraich to attend an event, 'Vijayotsav of Maharaja Suheldev', during which he inaugurated a memorial dedicated to Maharaja Suheldev and unveiled his equestrian statue. He also questioned why national icons such as Maharaja Suheldev were not honoured earlier and no grand memorials, universities or medical colleges were named after such personalities in the past. The CM said, 'While the BJP commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the Statue of Unity, the SP sings praises of divisive figures such as Jinnah. When we talked about celebrating Suheldev's valour, the SP and the Congress argued over holding weddings for Ghazi Miyan. We have made it clear — glorifying invaders must end and national heroes must be honoured.' The state government has built the memorial at a cost of around Rs 40 crore and has also established a 40-ft bronze equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev. Adityanath also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 384 development projects worth Rs 1,243 crore and planted a sapling under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. He thanked those who discontinued events held in the name of Ghazi Miyan and also remembered Maharaja Balbhadra Singh on his birth anniversary. The CM pointed out that Maharaja Suheldev, a millennium ago, had presented a strategic and valiant response to foreign invaders, yet never received the honour he deserved in history. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign for development and heritage inspired our double-engine government to honour Maharaja Suheldev,' he said. He added that Bahraich's medical college has been named after Maharaja Suheldev, as has the state university in Azamgarh. The hospital is named after Rishi Balark. 'Our main events in Bahraich will now be dedicated to Suheldev, Rishi Balark and Maa Pateshwari—not any foreign invader,' the CM said. He said that Salar Masud, a foreign invader who marched into India with an army of around 300,000, was 'systematically stopped from Mathura to Bahraich by Maharaja Suheldev's strategic brilliance'. By the time Masud reached Chittora (the place in Bahraich where Suheldev's memorial and statue are built), half of his army had been defeated. In the decisive battle, Suheldev's 20,000-25,000 warriors eliminated around 150,000 of Masud's soldiers. Masud was captured alive. Thanking BJP workers, the CM said, 'Your enthusiasm since morning shows that the fair must celebrate Maharaja Suheldev, not invaders such as Salar Masud.' Referring to PM Modi's 'Panch Pran' (five pledges), the CM said, 'Respecting heritage means honouring Suheldev. Freedom from colonial mindset means ending events held in the name of Masud.' He declared that while history may have been unjust to Maharaja Suheldev, the double-engine BJP government will not allow that injustice to continue. 'He was a symbol of valour and bravery. Those who fought alongside him to protect India's land and faith from foreign invaders were also long deprived of recognition and benefits.' The Chief Minister also announced that a grand memorial would be built in Lucknow in honour of Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who defeated foreign invaders. He recalled that four women warriors from the 1857 revolt had dealt major blows to the British forces. The medical college and university in Jhansi have been named after Rani Laxmibai. In Budaun, a women's PAC battalion has been formed in the name of Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi, and her equestrian statue will be installed there. In Lucknow, construction is underway for a women's PAC battalion named after Veerangana Uda Devi—about 35-40% of the work has been completed, and her statue will be installed upon completion. A similar battalion is also being established in Gorakhpur in the name of Jhalkari Bai, along with a grand statue. The CM also informed that a memorial and cultural centre is under construction in Lucknow in honour of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, which will be completed by December. He added that scholarships for SC/ST students are being arranged and would be implemented from this platform. The Chief Minister proposed that from next year onwards, the event should be held over three days. 'This will ensure that no one can erase the legacy of national heroes such as Maharaja Suheldev from the pages of history,' he said.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Stop glorification of foreign invaders, honour national heroes: Yogi
LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday emphasised that glorification of foreign invaders should be stopped and national heroes be honoured while launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and other opposition parties, saying they did not honour national icon Maharaja Suheldev when they were in power. As per historians, Maharaja Suheldev, an icon of the Rajbhar community, had defeated and killed Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masood in a battle on the banks of the Chittora Lake in Bahraich in 1033 AD. 'No memorials, universities, or medical colleges were named after the icon when opposition parties were in power. The fear of losing the Muslim vote bank prevented them from uttering a word against foreign invaders,' he said at a programme to mark the 'Vijayotsav' of Maharaja Suheldev, near Chittora block's Masihabad Gram Sabha in Bahraich. Adityanath inaugurated the 40-feet bronze equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev and launched 384 development projects worth ₹1,243 crore in the district. 'While the BJP commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the Statue of Unity, SP sings praises of divisive figures like Jinnah. We have made it clear — glorifying invaders must end, and national heroes must be honoured,' he said. The CM said Maharaja Suheldev had presented a strategic and valiant response to foreign invaders a millennium ago but never received the honour he deserved in history. 'PM Modi's campaign for development and heritage inspired our double-engine government to honour him. Bahraich's medical college has been named after Maharaja Suheldev, as has the state university in Azamgarh. The hospital is named after Rishi Balark. Our main events in Bahraich will now be dedicated to Suheldev, Rishi Balark, and Maa Pateshwari — not any foreign invader,' Adityanath declared. The remarks came in the backdrop of the controversy over the Bahraich district administration denying permission for the annual 'Jeth Mela', which was traditionally held at the dargah of Salar Masood from May 15 to June 15 and drew lakhs of pilgrims. Thanking party workers, the CM said, 'Your enthusiasm since morning shows that the fair must be organized to celebrate Maharaja Suheldev, not invaders like Salar Masud.' Referring to PM Modi's 'Paanch Pran' (five pledges), Yogi added: 'Respecting heritage means honouring Suheldev. Freedom from colonial mindset means ending events held in the name of Masud. Today, your discipline and unity reflect respect for law and the Constitution.' 'History may have been unjust to Maharaja Suheldev, but the double-engine BJP government will not allow that injustice to continue. He was a symbol of valour and bravery. Those who fought alongside him to protect India's land and faith from foreign invaders were also long deprived of recognition and benefits,' he said. The CM announced that a grand memorial will be built in Lucknow in the honour of Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who defeated foreign invaders. The state government will also honour four women warriors from the 1857 revolt who had dealt major blows to the British forces. The medical college and university in Jhansi have been named after Rani Laxmibai. In Badaun, a women's PAC battalion has been formed in the name of Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi, and her equestrian statue will be installed there. In Lucknow, construction is underway for a women's PAC battalion named after Veerangana Uda Devi — about 35-40% of the work has been completed and her statue will be installed upon completion. A similar battalion is also being established in Gorakhpur in the name of Jhalkari Bai, along with a grand statue, the CM added. A memorial and cultural centre is under construction in Lucknow in the honour of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. The construction work will be completed by his death anniversary on December 6. Scholarships for SC/ST students are being arranged and will be implemented soon, he said. The CM performed 'Annaprashan' rituals for the children of Priyanka, Sumitra, Savitri, Seema, and Rajni, naming them after Maharaja Suheldev. He also distributed cheques of ₹5 lakh each to beneficiaries Kailash Kumar, Chandrashekhar, and Pramod Kumar under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan. Vijayotsav Fair The chief minister proposed that from next year onwards, the Vijayotsav event should be held over three days. He called for academic programmes, wider distribution of the Maharaja Suheldev Memorial Trust magazine, scholarships for students, and construction of a good library. 'This will ensure that no one can erase the legacy of national heroes like Maharaja Suheldev from the pages of history,' he said.
