3 days Ago
1 2 Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday appealed to the people not to limit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to only one community. While establishing Swarajya , Shivaji Maharaj never discriminated on the basis of caste and religion, he said. Pawar visited Vadhu Budruk in Pune district to pay tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on his death anniversary.
Amidst some right-wing activists' claim that Shivaji Maharaj was not secular, Pawar said some people are unnecessarily creating controversy. "When Shivaji Maharaj established Swarajya, he ensured that all communities were part of it. He never discriminated on the basis of caste or religion.
There is enough historical evidence to show that people from different communities worked for Shivaji Maharaj. Therefore, I appeal to all the people not to limit him to only one community," Pawar told reporters. A few weeks ago, when cabinet minister Nitesh Rane claimed that there were no Muslim warriors in Shivaji Maharaj's army, Ajit Pawar countered him and said there were historical records to show that Muslim warriors were indeed part of his army.
Politics in the state has heated up in the last couple of months over the topic of historic figures, including Shivaji Maharaj. A few cases have been registered against some persons for making derogatory remarks against iconic personalities. Udayanraje Bhosale, descendent of Shivaji Maharaj and Lok Sabha MP from Satara, has come down heavily on govt led by his own party, claiming it has remained a mute spectator while controversies are erupting.
Bhosale demanded that govt call a special session to introduce a stringent law against those who are insulting the iconic figures. "There have been constant derogatory remarks against icons like Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj. Such remarks are disturbing the peace in society.
Govt should bring in a stringent law like MCOCA which will have a provision of minimum 10 years of imprisonment for insulting iconic figures," the Satara MP said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Navratri Wishes , Eid Messages and quotes !.
