Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a 40-foot equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev in Chittaura, Bahraich, reigniting national attention on one of India’s most overlooked warrior kings. In a speech laced with historical truths, civilisational pride, and a fierce indictment of vote-bank politics, CM Yogi Adityanath tore into past regimes—particularly Congress and the Samajwadi Party for systematically erasing the legacy of Hindu warriors while glorifying invaders like Muhammad Ghazi, Babar, and even Jinnah.
The event, attended by a massive crowd and streamed live across Uttar Pradesh, was part of the ongoing “Vijayotsav” commemorating Maharaja Suheldev’s decisive victory over Ghaznavid general Salar Masud in the historic Battle of Bahraich in 1034 CE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial virtually, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present on the ground for the formal unveiling of the 40-foot equestrian statue.
In a scathing address, CM Yogi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and Samajwadi Party, accusing them of erasing national heroes like Maharaja Suheldev from public memory while glorifying foreign invaders for vote-bank politics. He asserted that successive governments had deliberately sidelined Suheldev’s legacy, despite his historic feat of halting a massive invasion force from Ghazni. “This erasure was no accident—it was a calculated distortion of history. Only under the double-engine BJP government has Suheldev finally received the honour he rightfully deserved,” the CM declared, calling the occasion a true celebration of civilisational victory.
Who was Maharaja Suheldev?
Maharaja Suheldev was a Rajbhar king of Shravasti, revered for his exceptional valour and strategic brilliance in defending Bharat from foreign aggression during the early 11th century. His most famous act of heroism was defeating and killing Sayyid Salar Masud, the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni, who had marched into the Indian heartland with an army of over 3 lakh soldiers. Masud’s expedition was aimed not only at plundering wealth but also at establishing Islamic hegemony.
Suheldev, rallying a confederation of local rulers and militias, strategically weakened Masud’s forces between Mathura and Bahraich. According to historical and folkloric accounts—including the Persian chronicle Mirat-i-Masudi Suheldev’s 20,000-25,000 troops decimated Masud’s invaders, ultimately killing him near Chittaura Lake. The site is today considered sacred and a symbol of resistance against Islamic invasions.
For centuries, his story remained buried, uncelebrated by mainstream historians often by design.
The Maharaja Suheldev Smarak Project was initiated under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, with the foundation stone laid virtually on February 16, 2021. The project includes the 40-foot bronze statue, a grand memorial complex, a museum, and an interpretation center near Chittaura Lake—believed to be the actual battleground.
“Today’s unveiling is a sacred moment,” CM Yogi declared. “This is not just stone and metal. This is the living soul of Bharat’s resistance against 800 years of foreign occupation. This statue shouts back at those who tried to bury our warriors under the debris of appeasement.”
The site was transformed into a high-security zone, divided into 20 sectors, with drone surveillance and a three-tier security cover. Police from neighbouring districts, intelligence units, and plainclothes officers were stationed to ensure safety during the high-profile event.
CM Yogi’s scathing attack: ‘History was manipulated to appease, not to honour’
Addressing thousands of attendees, CM Yogi Adityanath’s speech pulled no punches. He lambasted the Congress and SP for decades of deliberate neglect, arguing that national heroes like Suheldev were written out of history because they didn’t serve the politics of appeasement.
“Why wasn’t a memorial to Suheldev built earlier? Why wasn’t a medical college in his name sanctioned before? Because Congress and SP feared the collapse of their Muslim vote bank,” said CM Yogi. “Their only concern was to appease, not to uplift. If you honour Suheldev, you expose Ghazi Miyan. If you build a Ram Mandir, you embarrass Babar.”
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "Prime Minister Modi had given a clear directive that national heroes must be honored. With this intent and heartfelt dedication, there was a desire to give Maharaj Suhel Dev the respect he truly deserved. Though… pic.twitter.com/TaOda2Q3kk
— IANS (@ians_india) June 10, 2025
CM Yogi also ridiculed past demands by Samajwadi leaders to celebrate the “wedding” of Ghazi Miyan. “When we talked about Maharaja Suheldev’s Vijayotsav, these same people asked for Ghazi Miyan’s shaadi to be celebrated. I thank the people who stopped such mockery from happening.”
CM Yogi recounted Suheldev’s legendary battle in vivid detail: “When Salar Masud crossed Mathura, Suheldev had already laid traps. Half the army was destroyed before they reached Bahraich. And then, with just 20-25 thousand soldiers, Suheldev cut through them like carrots and radishes. That’s what real leadership looks like!”
He added, “Salar Masud was captured alive and was given a punishment that, by Islamic beliefs, ensures eternal damnation. This was not just a battle—it was a civilisational message: Bharat will never bow.”
'राष्ट्रवीर' महाराजा सुहेलदेव जी के नेतृत्व में…
सालार मसूद को ऐसी सजा हुई, जो इस्लाम के अनुसार जहन्नुम जाने की गारंटी देता है… pic.twitter.com/IGkoCskfsS
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) June 10, 2025
He slammed the Congress and SP for glorifying figures like Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “While BJP celebrates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, SP praises the nation-breaker Jinnah. When we proposed celebrating Vijay Utsav for Maharaja Suheldev, they wanted celebrations for Ghazi Miyan’s wedding instead. This exposes their mindset.”
Nationalism over Nehruism: “Appeasement ends, accountability begins”
The speech took on a broader nationalist tone as CM Yogi linked the neglect of Suheldev to the same ideological lineage that denied the Ram Mandir, downplayed the legacy of freedom fighters like Bijli Pasi, and romanticised Islamic invaders in textbooks.
He declared, “For 70 years, the Congress distorted our textbooks, glorified invaders, and mocked our heroes. Now under Prime Minister Modi, and with our government in the state, we are bringing justice to our ancestors.”
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "About a thousand years ago, there should have been a proper response to foreign invaders. Maharaj Suhel Dev, who set an example in history for such a response, did not receive the honor he deserved. However, under… pic.twitter.com/EPJsMYW6K5
— IANS (@ians_india) June 10, 2025
‘Ram temple a reality, memorials for brave women next’
CM Yogi also invoked the resistance of brave Bharatiya women during the 1857 First War of Independence. “They gave the British sleepless nights. And now, just as the Ram temple has finally risen in Ayodhya despite decades of obstruction, similar memorials will be built to honour our warrior women, like Bijli Pasi, whose courage too was sidelined by pseudo-secular politics,” he said.
He declared emphatically, “No one can question the Ram Mandir anymore. It stands tall in Ayodhya, as does the court of Raja Ram. And just like Suheldev’s statue, more symbols of our heritage will be brought back to life.”
Tight security amid VVIP presence and drone surveillance
The scale and symbolism of the event were matched by unprecedented security measures. Chittaura was turned into a virtual fortress, divided into 20 security sectors, and placed under tight drone surveillance. All homes and villages within a 2.5 km radius were monitored. A three-layer security apparatus was deployed, involving district forces, PSC jawans, and plainclothes policemen at strategic locations including the venue, helipad, and Chittaura Lake.
Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, along with senior BJP leaders and local dignitaries, were in attendance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial virtually, reiterating his vision of a culturally empowered and self-reliant Bharat.
Earlier in the day, CM Yogi inaugurated an exhibition at the BJP office in Lucknow marking 11 years of Narendra Modi’s premiership. Linking heritage revival to good governance, Yogi described the Modi years as a “golden era” of development and integrity. “India is now known for transparency, security, and cultural pride. The Modi doctrine—of peace for friends, but iron-fist response to enemies—is our new normal. Operation Sindoor proved that,” he said.
“From surgical strikes to Operation Sindoor, and now to cultural resurrection from Ram Mandir to Suheldev’s memorial this is the India we dreamt of,” he said. He emphasised that Modi’s mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas had created a development model that is impartial, corruption-free, and anchored in civilisational confidence.
CM Yogi concluded with a clear message: “This is not just the unveiling of a statue. It is the revival of national memory. And we will not allow our heroes to be buried under the weight of vote-bank politics anymore.”
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