MP minister calls Roy a 'British agent', apologizes amid flak

Inder Singh Parmar, Madhya Pradesh's Higher Education Minister, stirred controversy at an event in Agar Malwa district by saying Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a 'British agent' who started a 'vicious cycle of religious conversion.' He added that the British had projected several people as 'fake social reformers' and promoted those who encouraged conversions, while praising Birsa Munda for resisting what he called missionary education.

The remarks drew sharp criticism from across political lines. In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of attempting to demean Bengal's intelligentsia and the people, while Kolkata's Shashi Panja said the statements reflected an effort to undermine Bengal's cultural pride amid the ongoing political rivalry. The debate touched on Bengal's icons like Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chattopadhyay, which have been flashpoints in recent political discourse.

Parmar later released a video statement on X apologizing for the remark and attributing it to a 'slip of the tongue.'

The controversy comes as the BJP seeks to consolidate gains after the Bihar elections and shore up support in West Bengal ahead of elections next year. Observers say the episode underscores how the history of social reformers and education during colonial rule remains a touchstone in current politics, even as politicians promise to defend tribal and local communities.

With the incident, questions are likely to linger about how history is interpreted in political rhetoric and what it means for outreach across states as parties gear up for upcoming polls.

Cover image source: M.P. Minister apologises for remarks on Raja Ram Mohan Roy 🔗

#RajaRamMohanRoy #MPPolitics #EducationDebate