Protests held over ‘PM Shivaji’ book

Mumbai: A Bharatiya Janata Party leader’s book, which has equated Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has snowballed into a major controversy in the state, with the Congress announcing an agitation over the issue. A police complaint has also been filed against the author of the book in several parts of the state.

“Congress workers will take out a protest march at every district headquarters on Tuesday against the book,” Maharashtra Congress president and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat told reporters on Monday evening.

 “The BJP, which came to power by seeking votes on the name of the Chhatrapati, is now trying to compare Shivaji Maharaj with Narendra Modi. Earlier too, BJP leaders Ajaykumar Bisht and Vijay Goyal had tried to compare Modi with Shivraj. Congress will stage agitations in several parts of the state against the BJP, which is insulting Chhatrapati time and again,” Mr Thorat said.

Today’s Shivaji: Narendra Modi, written by BJP leader Jai Bhagwan Goyal was released at an event held at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. Since then, the BJP is facing flak from all quarters, with social media buzzing with strong reactions. In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have criticised the book.

In Nagpur, a state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe has lodged a police complaint against Mr Goyal for allegedly hurting the sentiments of people through the book.

A Shiv Sena worker,  Dinkar Jagdale, has also filed a police complaint in Solapur against Mr Goyal for hurting the sentiments of people by comparing Mr Modi with Shijvai Maharaj.

“We have received the complaint application but the case has not been registered as a legal opinion is being sought,” said the Faujdar Chawadi police station officer. Mr Jagdale demanded a ban on the book and ‘strong action’ against Mr Goyal.

“By comparing Chhat-rapati Shivaji Maharaj with Prime Minister Modi, the author has insulted the great Maratha king and hurt the sentiments of all the ‘Shiv Premis’ and ‘Shiv Bhakts’,” he said.

In Pune, the NCP and the Sambhaji Brigade held protests against a book outside Lalmahal area.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Prashant Jagtap condemned the comparison and said it was a move to ‘erase the glorious history’ of the Maratha emperor, Sambhaji Brigade functionary Santosh Shinde said the book should be withdrawn in 48 hours, failing which more agitations would follow.

The BJP, however, tried distancing itself from the book, with the party saying it has nothing do with its publication and it represents the author’s personal opinion. BJP media co-in charge Sanjay Ma-yukh said that the book’s author has expressed his willingness to withdraw those parts of the book, which a section of society has found objectionable.