The elimination of the Shivaji statue in Bagalkot in Karnataka has provoked the ire of the Maharashtra authorities with Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) chief and Minister for Cultural Affairs Sudhir Mungantiwar taking pictures off a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday criticising the motion and demanding the statue be re-installed whereas these liable for its elimination be punished.
Mr. Mungantiwar condemned the statue’s elimination notably because it had come when Maharashtra and the nation have been celebrating the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s coronation (in 1674).
“The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been faraway from the sq. of Bagalkot in Karnataka. We demand the statue be put in once more in the identical place with dignity, and in addition that the federal government apologise for the incident and severely punish the individuals liable for this incident,” mentioned the BJP chief in his letter.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is worshiped by the entire of India and he’s the supply of inspiration for Indian freedom. Additionally, not simply Bagalkot, however most of Karnataka was underneath the rule of Shahaji Raje, father of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The Congress authorities of Karnataka must also pay attention to the historic undeniable fact that Bangalore, the current capital of Karnataka, was based and developed by Shahaji Raje,” mentioned Mr. Mungantiwar, in a submit on the micro-blogging web site X (previously Twitter).
The statue at Bagalkot’s Sonar Extension had been dismantled on August 15 by town municipal company and the district administration because it had allegedly been erected with out permission.
The motion sparked protests by the opposition BJP leaders, prompting the district administration to impose prohibitory orders.
The Maharashtra Congress, nevertheless, hit out on the ruling BJP, with Chief of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar stating that the Bagalkot Shivaji statue was illegally constructed and that the BJP had no proper to precise ethical outrage when it had allegedly supported its leaders insulting Shivaji and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji up to now.