Row over Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj–Tipu Sultan comparability: 9 injured as BJP, Congress employees conflict in stone pelting after Sapkal’s remarks | India Information

NEW DELHI: At the very least 9 individuals have been injured on Sunday after a confrontation broke out between BJP and Congress employees in Pune throughout a protest over remarks made by Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal that allegedly equated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.The conflict came about outdoors the Congress Bhavan, the place BJP employees had gathered to protest in opposition to Sapkal’s feedback. The scenario escalated into sloganeering and stone pelting from each side, resulting in minor accidents.Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma stated that three Congress employees, two BJP employees, two police personnel and two journalists have been injured within the incident.“A protest was held close to the Congress Bhavan, which noticed sloganeering from employees of BJP and Congress. Employees of each events climbed onto partitions and there was stone pelting from each side. Circumstances are being registered in opposition to employees of each side,” Sharma knowledgeable.Police deployed heavy safety within the space to stop additional escalation.The controversy stems from Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal’s latest remarks, wherein he referred to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and cited Tipu Sultan’s resistance in opposition to the British as being on related strains. The feedback triggered political backlash within the state.Talking to reporters, Sapkal stated: “The type of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the idea of ‘Swarajya’ (self-rule) that he launched… a lot later, following in that very custom and taking inspiration from his beliefs, Tipu Sultan waged conflict in opposition to the British.”“In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a terrific warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a real son of India. He by no means allowed any toxic or communal concepts to sway him. As a logo of bravery, we must always view Tipu Sultan as equal to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.A day earlier, a separate row had erupted over a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed within the workplace of the deputy mayor of the Malegaon Municipal Company, which was opposed by Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu outfits.Pune metropolis Congress chief Arvind Shinde stated that the celebration has submitted a written criticism in opposition to BJP functionaries and demanded motion.He stated a case must be registered in opposition to Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, BJP metropolis president Dheeraj Ghate, Dushyant Mohol and different employees.Talking to PTI, Maharashtra Congress vice-president Mohan Joshi alleged that BJP employees initiated the violence.“In the course of the protest, stones have been pelted at Congress employees and two sustained accidents. We’re at present holding a sit-in protest outdoors the police station in Shivajinagar looking for motion,” he stated.Krishikesh Rawale, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), stated that police intervened promptly to stop the scenario from worsening.In the meantime, BJP Pune metropolis unit president Dheeraj Ghate lodged a criticism in opposition to Sapkal at Parvati police station for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. A FIR has been registered.The political change intensified as Maharashtra Congress chief Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of “double requirements” and pursuing a polarisation agenda.In an announcement, Sawant cited previous situations the place BJP leaders had supported references to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan in public areas and official boards. He referred to resolutions handed in civic our bodies in Akola and Mumbai and alleged that BJP leaders had earlier praised or related to the historic determine.“What ought to this hypocrisy be referred to as? Tipu Sultan used to put on a hoop bearing the identify of Lord Ram,” he claimed.Sawant alleged that the BJP was now portraying Tipu Sultan negatively to create spiritual divisions and have interaction in “distorted spiritual politics”.He additional cited examples, together with a 2012 decision within the Akola Municipal Company to call a corridor after Tipu Sultan, a 2013 proposal supported by BJP corporators to call a street in Mumbai, and a 2001 street naming in Andheri (West). He additionally claimed that former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa had visited Tipu Sultan’s tomb and written phrases of reward and that then President Ram Nath Kovind had praised Tipu Sultan within the Karnataka Meeting in 2017.