Accusing Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of misusing Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj for “his own publicity”, the Opposition Congress on Wednesday demanded an apology from Fadnavis for “insulting” the legendary Maratha warrior by putting up posters with the image of Shivaji near a garbage dump.
Slamming Fadnavis for putting up posters titled as “Devabhau” of himself with Shivaji all over the place in Mumbai and several other places across the state, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said: “Fadnavis has put up posters of himself with Shivaji in various places for his own publicity. Why is Maharaj being insulted by the chief minister for his publicity?”
“Some of the posters (with the image of Shivaj) have been put up in untidy places filled with garbage and dirt. Some of the posters put up in a lane that leads to the Prabhadevi Railway Station are in a very poor state. People are spitting on the poster. Shivaji Maharaj is being insulted by Fadnavis for his self-promotion,” Sakpal said.
Posing direct questions to the chief minister, Sakpal asked “Why are you insulting Maharaj like this for your own publicity? Who gave you the right to put up posters where people spit and throw garbage?”. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the deity of Maharashtra. Putting up his image near a garbage dump is an insult to the entire Maharashtra.”
“Maharashtra. The followers of Shivaji Maharaj will never tolerate this insult. Fadnavis should publicly apologise to the people of the state for hurting the sentiments of the people,” Sakpal said. Demanding to know if Fadnavis had insulted Shivaji deliberately, Sakpal said: “This possibility cannot be ruled, given the the way in which the leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP have consistently insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”.