“It was absolutely correct course of action…” SP’s Sanatan Pandey defends 1990 firing on Ram Bhakts

Nov 09, 2026

Ballia (UP), November 9 (ANI): In what has emerged as a controversy as Uttar Pradesh gears up for assembly polls in 2027, Samajwadi Party MP Sanatan Pandey on Monday strongly defended former Prime Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav over the 1990 firing incident on Kar Sevaks, taking a swipe at the central government. He said that Singh's action was taken to uphold the Indian Constitution and prevent a potential civil war. “... For 35 years—ever since 1991—they (BJP) have been criticising Mulayam Singh Yadav, claiming that he ordered firing on Ram devotees. They have used this narrative to mislead the public. But tell me, under their own rule—just recently—who ordered the firing on others? Whose government was in power in the state? Whose government was in power at the Centre?... If Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) ordered the firing to protect the Constitution of India, then it was the absolutely correct course of action... At that time, the Indian Army had been deployed. The primary responsibility lay in ensuring that no one reached the disputed structure—referred to here as the Ram Mandir—which was already subject to a court-ordered stay. How did the individuals—the Ram Bhakts—manage to reach it? The responsibility for this also rested with the Central government, as well as with the local authorities tasked with maintaining law and order... Had the order not been given to open fire, the mosque—or the temple—might have been destroyed; such an event could well have triggered a civil war in India, much like the destruction of temples that occurred in other countries. Therefore, the firing was ordered to protect the Constitution of India...,” said Sanatan Pandey.