Controversy Over Dhirendra Shastri’s Shivaji Comment, Opposition Calls for Ban in Maharashtra

Nagpur: Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Bharat Durga Temple in Jamtha, Nagpur on Friday, April 24, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was tired after fighting many wars, then he went to Samarth Ramdas Swami and said that he wanted to hand over the throne to him for some time. Along with this, he also advised Hindus to have four children and said that one child should be dedicated to RSS. It was from here that there was an uproar in the politics of Maharashtra.

Why was there such a big controversy? 

This statement was given from the stage where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were also present. The opposition's biggest question was this: history was distorted in front of such big leaders, and why did no one immediately object?

What did the opposition say?

Congress demanded Shastri's arrest and described his statement as "historically wrong." Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, "This Bageshwar Baba has gone further in nonsense. " Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) MP Sanjay Raut said, "First the statue fell in Malwan due to corruption; now people invited from outside are insulting our history." MLA Rohit Pawar called Shastri a "fraud" and warned that if such statements continued, he would not be allowed to enter Maharashtra. Jitendra Awhad (of the Sharad Pawar faction) demanded an unconditional apology.

What did Chief Minister Fadnavis say?

Seeing the growing controversy, CM Fadnavis distanced himself from this statement. He said that the authentic history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is very important and folklore may differ, but history should be understood only on the basis of solid evidence. 

Is this the first controversy of Bageshwar Baba or has it happened before also?

This is not the first time. Earlier in November 2022, then-Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had described Shivaji as an "old-time icon," and a BJP spokesperson had claimed that Shivaji had apologized to Aurangzeb. The opposition is calling it a well-planned conspiracy to repeatedly undermine Shivaji Maharaj's legacy.

This issue is no longer just a statement; ​​it is directly linked to the faith, history and politics of Maharashtra.