LS Zero Hour: BJP MPs slam insults against Rana Sanga; TMC’s Mahua Moitra says digital data law undermines RTI

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, in New Delhi on March 28, 2025. Photo: ANI Photo/Sansad TV

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday (March 28, 2025) condemned the remarks by a Samajwadi party MP against Rajput king Rana Sanga, asserting that the nation “will not tolerate insult” to great warriors.

Rana Sanga was the ruler of Mewar between 1508 and 1528 CE. The SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman had made a controversial observation that the Rajput king had “invited” Mughal invader Babur to the Indian subcontinent to defeat Ibrahim Lodi in the 16th century. His exact description of Rana Sanga was “expunged” from the records of the Rajya Sabha.

“I condemn the remarks made against Rana Sanga. Hindustan will not tolerate insult to legendary leaders like Shivaji and Rana Sanga,” Mr. Prasad said, rasing the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha. He pointed out that the legendary warrior forms part of India’s heritage and continues to inspire Indians.

Rao Rajendra Singh, a BJP member from Jaipur, added that Rana Sanga is synonym for valour. He asked the Opposition whether they approved of such comments against a warrior who gave his life fighting for the country.

RTI concerns

Also during Zero Hour, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said that Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, undermines the Right to Information (RTI) Act by overriding some of its provisions.

“As a result of this, you won’t get data on wilful known defaulters or anything which the government doesn’t want you to get. This is completely undermining the RTI Act,” Ms. Moitra alleged.

The two-term Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar also raised objections to a section in the Act which states that any group which possesses data — journalists, activists, or political parties — can now be classified as a data fiduciary.

“The Data Protection Board, which is completely made by the government, has the power to impose a fine of ₹250 crore, and that can go up to ₹500 crore. This will have a chilling effect on anyone seeking data,” she noted.