Controversy Erupts Over Comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra
CM Fadnavis in damage control after spiritual leader’s Shivaji Maharaj comment
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is facing backlash after remarks by spiritual leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, who claimed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was exhausted from fighting wars. This follows a separate controversy involving Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad's threats against a publisher over a book on the Maratha king. Protests have erupted across the state.
- 01Dhirendra Krishna Shastri's comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have sparked outrage.
- 02Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attempted to mitigate the backlash during a public event.
- 03Sanjay Gaikwad threatened a publisher over a book referencing Shivaji Maharaj, leading to additional controversy.
- 04Political leaders have condemned Shastri's remarks, calling them disrespectful to Maharashtra's heritage.
- 05Fadnavis emphasized the lack of historical evidence for Shastri's claims.
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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.
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The ongoing controversies may influence public sentiment and political dynamics in Maharashtra, especially regarding the representation of historical figures.
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