MP minister sparks row by calling Raja Ram Mohan Roy a "British agent"
Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar has stirred debate after calling social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy a "British agent" during a recent event.
Parmar argued that English education under British rule led to religious conversions in Bengal, and praised Birsa Munda for protecting tribal identity.
Who is Inder Singh Parmar?
Parmar is known for challenging mainstream history. He once claimed India was discovered by merchant Chandan, not Vasco da Gama, and pushed for college libraries to stock books linked to RSS affiliates.
He often criticizes colonial narratives that highlight foreign explorers over Indian figures.
Congress slams the remarks
The Congress party called Parmar's statement "shameful," defending Roy as a key figure behind important reforms like ending sati in 1829.
Parmar has previously accused historians of distorting India's past to favor foreign agents, saying "only lies have been taught."