Rane lashes out at Fadnavis over Purandare row, Dabholkar case

Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane today accused the Devendra Fadnavis government of creating the controversy over 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award only to divert attention from its failure to provide succor to the state's farmers who are reeling under drought.
Addressing a press conference here, Rane alleged that Fadnavis was trying to create social tension.
"The government should reveal on what grounds (historian) Babasaheb Purandare has been bestowed the state's highest award. Fadnavis should have listened to dissenting voices.... What work has Purandare done which makes him eligible...Did the committee unanimously zeroed in on his name or is it Fadnavis who pushed his name?" Rane said.

"British author James Laine has credited Purandare for his controversial book on Shivaji which is banned in the state. Has the government honoured Purandare for being the publisher of Laine's book?" he asked.
King Shivaji was known the world-over as a warrior king and he didn't need a Purandare to publicise him, Rane said.
Lambasting the Chief Minister over his statement that the government was not scared and would hold felicitations for Purandare all over the state, Rane said, "If Fadnavis was not scared, why hold the award function in high security zone like Raj Bhavan and not on open ground? Insult to King Shivaji will not be tolerated by the Bahujan Samaj (a term generally used for non-Brahmins) and the Maratha community."

Award to Purandare, a veteran writer, was opposed by several groups which accuse him of pro-Brahmin and distorted portrayal of Shivaji's life.