Nine injured as BJP and Congress workers clash with stone pelting in Pune over Harshwardhan Sapkal's remarks comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan. FIR filed, cases registered.
Congress Demands Case Against Pune BJP Leaders, Mayor After Clash Over Harshwardhan (Image: X)
At least nine persons were injured on Sunday when workers of the BJP and Congress clashed near the Congress Bhavan in Pune following a protest over Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal's controversial remarks comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan. The violence included stone pelting from both sides, with three Congress workers, two BJP workers, two police personnel and two journalists sustaining minor injuries, police said.
The violence erupted near the Congress Bhavan, the party's Pune headquarters, where a protest was held following Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal's remarks allegedly drawing similarities between 17th century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma told PTI that sloganeering from workers of both parties escalated into stone pelting. "Workers of both parties climbed onto walls and there was stone pelting from both sides. Cases are being registered against workers of both sides," Sharma said.
According to police officials, nine persons sustained minor injuries during the violence. The injured include three Congress workers, two BJP workers, two police personnel who were deployed to maintain order, and two journalists covering the protest. Following the incident, Pune city Congress chief Arvind Shinde said the party had submitted a written complaint against BJP functionaries. Shinde urged for cases to be registered against Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, BJP City president Dheeraj Ghate, Dushyant Mohol and other workers.
The Maharashtra Congress chief made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to reporters about the controversy over a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of Malegaon municipal corporation's deputy mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, who is Muslim. Sapkal, speaking in Marathi, allegedly compared the bravery and ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with those of Tipu Sultan, stating that the latter had fought against the British and should be regarded as a courageous warrior and a "son of the soil". The display of the Mysore ruler's portrait had previously been opposed by Shiv Sena and other groups.
An FIR was registered against Sapkal following a complaint filed by BJP Pune city unit president Dhiraj Ghate. The complainant alleged that the remarks hurt the sentiments of followers who revere Shivaji Maharaj as a deity-like figure, calling them provocative in nature and having the potential to disturb social harmony. Police have initiated a probe into the video and circumstances under which the statements were made.
Issuing a clarification, Sapkal told ANI: "I want to clearly state that the founder of Hindavi Swarajya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is our pride, honour, and glory. It was through his valour that Hindutva Swarajya was established." The Congress leader said that "taking inspiration from that, Tipu Sultan carried forward the struggle for self-rule." He further alleged that his remarks were being "politicised by the BJP."
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
