Since India’s independence, left-wing historians have had an impact on history. Left-wing historians have praised Congress leaders, while propagating misleading information about freedom fighters with anti-Congress ideologies. In this sequence, a post is going viral on social media claiming that Bhagat Singh’s lawyer was Asaf Ali, while the case against Bhagat Singh was fought by Suryanarayan, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and a close associate of RSS founder Hedgewar.
Radical Islamist Wajid Khan wrote, The lawyer who fought Bhagat Singh’s case was a Muslim whose name was “Asaf Ali”. And the name of the traitor who fought the case against Bhagat Singh was “Rai Bahadur Suryanarayan Sharma”. Suryanarayan was a friend of RSS founder Hedgewar and a member of RSS.
Congress Overseas in-charge Avi Dandiya, while sharing a picture, claimed, The lawyer who fought Bhagat Singh’s case was a Muslim whose name was “Asaf Ali”. And the name of the traitor who fought the case against Bhagat Singh was “Rai Bahadur Suryanarayan Sharma”. Suryanarayan was a friend of RSS founder Hedgewar and a member of RSS.
Asaf Ali (11 May 1888[1] – 2 April 1953) was an Indian independence activist and noted lawyer. He was the first Indian Ambassador to the United States. He also served as the Governor of Odisha. pic.twitter.com/6Cpj8EhicR
— 🇮🇳 Avi Dandiya (@avidandiya) March 19, 2024
The Dalit Voice wrote, The lawyer who fought Bhagat Singh’s case was a Muslim and his name was “Asif Ali”. So who was that traitor who fought the case on behalf of the British to get Bhagat Singh hanged? The name of that traitor was Rai Bahadur Suryanarayan Sharma, Suryanarayan was a friend of RSS founder Hedgewar and a member of RSS.
भगत सिंह का केस लड़ने वाला वकील एक मुसलमान था और उसका नाम “आसिफ अली” था।
— The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) September 28, 2019
तो कौन था वो गद्दार जिसने भगत सिंह को फांसी दिलाने के लिए अंग्रेजो की तरफ से केस लड़ा था?
उस गद्दार का नाम राय बहादुर सूर्यनारायण शर्मा था, सूर्यनारायण RSS के संस्थापक हेडगेवार का मित्र और RSS का सदस्य था।
Also Read: ‘I have never spread Fake news’, Know the reality of Congress leader Supriya Shrinate’s claim
Fact Check
In our investigation, we found a report published on the BBC and Dainik Bhaskar websites. According to this report, in 1928, the British government ordered a lathi charge on protesters opposing the Simon Commission, resulting in the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. This death incited several revolutionaries, including Bhagat Singh, who retaliated by killing British officer Saunders. Subsequently, the British government was preparing to introduce the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill in the Delhi Assembly, both of which were oppressive for the country. Disturbed by such policies and atrocities, Bhagat Singh planned to throw a bomb in the Central Assembly. On April 8, revolutionary organization member Bhagat Singh, along with his comrade Batukeshwar Dutt, threw a bomb in the assembly. Upon investigation, it was revealed that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were sentenced to 14 years in prison for the bomb incident in the assembly. However, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were hanged for the murder of Saunders.
In our investigation, we found that the trial for the bombing in the assembly began on May 7, 1929, and concluded on June 12, 1929, with Bhagat Singh and Dutt both being sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. The digital records related to this case are available on the Indian Cultural Portal (Part 1 and Part 2). These documents clearly mention that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt are the accused, with Asaf Ali being their lawyer. Additionally, the documents state that Rai Bahadur Suraj Narain was a government lawyer for the British government.
Afterward, we relied on historian A.G. Noorani’s book ‘The Trials of Bhagat Singh: Politics of Justice.’ On page 32 of A.G. Noorani’s book, it is written, “Asaf Ali represented Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, while Rai Bahadur Suraj Narain represented the British government.”
In this book, Noorani shared an excerpt of a letter written by Bhagat Singh to his father, in which he demanded a legal advisor. The book states, “There was no need to have a lawyer. But I want legal advice on some matters, although they are not so important.” Another part of the book makes it clear, stating, “Asaf Ali claimed that the draft was largely Bhagat Singh’s but he had polished the language.”
During the investigation, we also got the complete letter written by Bhagat Singh to his father, dated April 26, 1929, which reads, “I came to know that you were here and had discussions with some lawyer, but no arrangement could be made. Yesterday, I received clothes. Whenever you come, we will meet. There is no special need for a lawyer. Yes, I want to take a little advice on one or two points, but they are not very important. Don’t trouble yourself unnecessarily.”
On April 4, 1930, Bhagat Singh wrote in a letter to the Special Magistrate Lahore, ‘I do not have any lawyer nor can I hire anyone for the whole time. I wanted legal advice on certain points and at a particular stage I wanted him (the lawyer) to see the proceedings himself, so that he would be in a better position to form his opinion, but he was not even given a place to sit in the court.
Meanwhile, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were sentenced to death for the murder of Saunders. On March 23, 1931, all three were hanged. Digital documents related to this case are available on the Indian Culture Portal. According to the documents, Lala Duni Chand had advised Bhagat Singh in this particular case. On the other hand, Asaf Ali represented Sukhdev as a defense attorney in court. According to the documents, Mr. Noad, on behalf of the British Crown, appeared as the government’s attorney.
Taking the investigation forward, we searched Google to get information about Rai Bahadur Suraj Narain, the lawyer representing the British government in the bomb case. After the search, we did not find any evidence that proves that Rai Bahadur Suraj Narain was a member of the RSS.
Conclusion: There were two cases against Bhagat Singh. The first was the Central Assembly bomb explosion case, in which Bhagat Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment. In the “Sanders murder” case, Bhagat Singh was sentenced to death. In the Sanders murder case, Lala Duni Chand advised Bhagat Singh to fight his own case, while Mr. Noad appeared as the prosecutor for the British government. Meanwhile, in the bomb case in the assembly, renowned legal expert A.G. Noorani has mentioned in his book that Bhagat Singh fought his own case by appointing Asaf Ali as his counsel. Bhagat Singh admitted in his letters that he did not hire a lawyer, whereas Rai Bahadur Suraj Narain appeared as a government lawyer for the British government. However, there is no concrete evidence linking him to the RSS or Hedgewar. Therefore, the claim made in the post is misleading.
| Claim | Ram Bahadur Suryanarayan, the British government’s lawyer against Bhagat Singh, was a member of the RSS. |
| Claimed by | Wajid Khan, Avi Dandiya, The Dalit Voice, etc |
| Fact Check | Misleading |
