The controversy surrounding comments made by Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, a spiritual leader known as Bageshwar Baba, has ignited protests in Maharashtra. Speaking at a foundation stone-laying ceremony in Nagpur, Shastri claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the revered Maratha king, expressed exhaustion from warfare and handed over his crown to his guru, Ramdas Swami. This statement drew sharp criticism from several political figures, including Harshavardhan Sapkal, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief, who accused Shastri of disrespecting Maharashtra's cultural legacy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, present at the event, responded by stating that there is no historical evidence supporting Shastri's claims and that such folk legends are often created. The controversy is compounded by a separate incident involving Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who allegedly threatened a publisher over the title of a book discussing Shivaji Maharaj. Fadnavis condemned Gaikwad's actions and urged for understanding before creating uproar over long-published works. The situation reflects ongoing tensions regarding the portrayal of historical figures in contemporary discourse.