Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday stirred a controversy after he likened Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.Speaking to reporters on the controversy surrounding a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of Malegaon Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, which was opposed by the Shiv Sena and other groups, Sapkal said in Marathi that the Mysore ruler had followed Shivaji Maharaj’s ideals.“The kind of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the concept of ‘Swarajya’ (self-rule) that he introduced… much later, following in that very tradition and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged war against the British,” Sapkal said.“In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a great warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a true son of India. He never allowed any poisonous or communal ideas to sway him. As a symbol of bravery, we should view Tipu Sultan as equivalent to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.Bharatiya Janata Party lodged a complaint against Sapkal in Pune following which the police booked Sapkal under sections 192, 196(1), 196(2), 352 and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The complaint alleges that Sapkal’s remarks hurt the sentiments of Hindus and followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and had the potential to disturb communal harmony.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also weighed in the issue and said that the comparison was condemnable and asserted the Congress leader must feel ashamed of himself.Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Sawant y accused the BJP of “double standards” and pursuing a polarisation agenda after Sapkal faced criticism for ‘equating’ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.In a statement, the Congress spokesperson cited several instances to claim that BJP leaders had earlier supported or endorsed references to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in public spaces and official forums.He referred to resolutions in civic bodies in Akola and Mumbai, as well as past instances where BJP leaders had allegedly praised or associated with the historical figure, to argue that the party’s current opposition was politically motivated.The BJP earlier admired Tipu Sultan, but now calls him bad for its polarisation agenda. “What should this hypocrisy be called? Tipu Sultan used to wear a ring bearing the name of Lord Ram,” Sawant claimed.The Congress leader also accused the ruling party of engaging in “distorted religious politics” and attempting to polarise voters, while reiterating the party’s criticism of the BJP’s stand on the issue.
