Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj–Tipu Sultan row snowballs: BJP demands Harshawardhan Sapkal’s resignation, Congress silent

NAGPUR: Eight people were injured in stone pelting during BJP and Patit Pawan Sanghatana’s protest in front of the Congress Bhavan in the city as state Congress chief Harshawardhan Sapkal’s remarks “equating” Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan escalated on Sunday, drawing in leaders from Maharashtra and Telangana and setting off protests across the state.

BJP and right-organisation supporters protested in Nagpur, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Sangli, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Latur and elsewhere. There was no untoward fallout at these places.


On his part, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi defended Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century Mysore (now Mysuru) ruler. “In 1799, Tipu Sultan died fighting the British,” Owaisi said. “He did not sit in jail and write love letters to the British.” Owaisi also questioned Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for slamming Sapkal over the remarks.

Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao said by glorifying Tipu Sultan, the AIMIM “is distorting history”.

Congress has not yet issued a detailed clarification on the matter. Party sources indicated that internal discussions were on amid mounting political pressure. With demonstrations spreading and leaders trading charges over historical interpretation, the controversy shows no sign of abating.

Sapkal and Fadnavis engaged in a war of words on Saturday after the state Congress chief compared Tipu Sultan to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, claiming Tipu Sultan belonged “to the same league of valour”. The CM said the comparison was “unacceptable”.

In Pune, Patit Pawan Sanghatana members were the first to assemble in front of the Congress Bhawan on Sunday morning, condemning Sapkal's remarks.

Around 12.30pm, BJP workers, including mayor Manjusha Nagpure, reached the site and started sloganeering and showing posters.
By then, about 100 Congress workers reached the site and started raising counterslogans.

“As the sloganeering was on from both side, someone hurled a stone. This set off the stone pelting by members from either side,” additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said. “Two women constables, two reporters and two workers each from BJP and Congress were injured. “The nature of injuries was not serious,” he said.

DCP (Zone I) Krushikesh Rawale said, “Our team intervened to disperse the stone pelters and restored normalcy within 10 minutes. We maintained strong bandobust at Congress Bhawan and the BJP office near Sambhaji Garden on JM Road.”

BJP Pune city president Dheeraj Ghate said, “Sapkal’s remarks deeply hurt the sentiments of all those who idolise Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a deity. It is a deliberate attempt to create a rift in society.”

BJP claimed it had the police permission to hold the protest, but the Congress had no permission to stage a counter-protest and indulge in sloganeering supporting Sapkal.

“The Congress workers started the stone pelting just when our protest was over and our people were leaving the place,” Ghate said.
Congress’s former MLC Mohan Joshi countered the allegation and went on to blame the police for “helping” BJP workers by not taking any steps to stop the BJP workers. “The police official on duty at the site must be suspended,” Joshi said.

Former mayor Prashant Jagtap said, “The BJP leaders and workers are showing the arrogance of power. Their behaviour is unlawful and they should be punished for it. Criminal offences should be filed against them.”

In Nashik, BJP MLA Devyani Pharande led the party workers to a vociferous protest in front of the Congress Committee office on the MG Road. The Sarkarwada police had deployed a strong bandobust to ensure that there was no untoward incident as the protestors demonstrated from 11am to 11.30am before leaving the spot.

Pharande later told reporters, “It is unfortunate that even 24 hours after Sapkal’s comments, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Balasaheb Thorat, Nana Patole and Sanjay Raut have not uttered a word. The Uddhav Sena and the Raj Sena should clear their position if they agree or disagree with Sapkal’s comments. We won’t let Sapkal move around freely unless he steps down from his party post.

BJP minister Atul Save led the party workers’ protest at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. "Sapkal should read history books first before opening his mouth. We won’t let him enter Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar unless he apologizes," he said.

In Sangli, city unit president Prakash Dhang led the protest in front of the district Congress committee office. "Congress should immediately sack Sapkal. Neither Tipu Sultan nor anyone can be equal to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who is a deity for all of us,” he said. There was a heavy police bandobast outside the Congress office.

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