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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are national heroes and not Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Speaking at a function after unveiling a life-size statue of the Mewar ruler at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, Singh said Maharana Pratap was an epitome of courage and patriotism. "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj drew inspiration from Maharana Pratap, especially for guerilla warfare tactics," Singh said. Post-Independence historians with Left leanings did not give due credit to both Rana Pratap and Shivaji Maharaj but eulogised Aurangzeb, the senior BJP leader claimed. "Those who feel that Aurangzeb was a hero should have read Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who wrote that the Mughal emperor was a cruel, fundamentalist ruler," he said. Maharana Pratap sacrificed his life to uphold his self-respect and challenged the dominance of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Singh further said. Apart from his exemplary bravery, Maharana Pratap united all section
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said the people still praising Aurangzeb are "traitors", noting the Mughal emperor had sought to conquer the state and committed various atrocities. On the other hand, Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the "divine force" who stood for valour, sacrifice and the spirit of Hindutva, Shinde said on Monday night on the occasion of 'Shiv Jayanti'. The Shiv Sena head was speaking at the unveiling of an equestrian statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Gharda Chowk in Dombivli area of Thane district, installed to honour the legacy of the Maratha king, his courage and leadership. His remarks come amid demands from some right-wing outfits for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb located in the state's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Notably, violence erupted in central Nagpur on Monday following rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. Speaking at the
The Indian Army has installed a statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji on the bank of Pangong lake at an altitude of 14,300 feet, a region that is close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the eastern Ladakh sector. The Army's Leh-based 14 Corps said the inauguration of the statue celebrated the "unwavering spirit" of the Indian ruler as his legacy remains a source of inspiration. The statue was unveiled on Thursday by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, the General Officer Commanding of the 14 Corps, widely known as Fire and Fury Corps. The towering symbol of valour, vision and unwavering justice was inaugurated by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, the 14 Corps said on X. "The event celebrates the unwavering spirit of the Indian ruler, whose legacy remains a source of inspiration for generations," it said. The Army has been making efforts to integrate India's "ancient strategic acumen" into the contemporary military domain. The unveiling of the Shivaji statue came weeks after India a
Police have arrested a fabricator of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that recently collapsed at a fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, triggering a huge political row, an official said on Friday. Fabricator Parmeshwar Ramnaresh Yadav, who was arrested from Uttar Pradesh, had used substandard material while shaping the 35-foot-tall statue of the Maratha warrior king, he said. A resident of Mirzapur in UP, Yadav was taken into custody on Thursday after his role in the statue collapse came to light, the official said. Yadav had been tasked with creating the Shivaji statue by welding separate parts, he said. Police said the fabricator used inferior material to form the structure and did not join the parts properly through welding. During a technical analysis, it was found that the collapsed steel statue had rusted in some places, indicating the use of low-quality material, he said. After his role in the case was established, Yadav was also made an accused and was ...
In the wake of collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg, the Maharashtra government has issued a tender for the construction of a new 60-foot-tall statue there, nearly twice the size of the previous one, officials said on Wednesday. The statue will be built at a cost of Rs 20 crore and the government has set a six-month timeframe for the completion of the work, they said. A 35-foot-tall statue of the 17th century Maratha empire founder, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district on December 4 (Navy Day) last year, collapsed on August 26 amid strong winds. The statue's sculptor, Jaydeep Apte, was later arrested. The government has faced flak as the opposition parties alleged the decision to install the statue in Sindhudurg was taken haphazardly, which resulted in poor quality of work. Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) had flagged concerns over rust gathering on Shivaji Maharaj's statue and suggested permanent
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said some elements who don't want India to grow are creating hindrance in the path of its development, but there was no need to be scared as a similar situation prevailed during the times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but it was tackled using the power of "dharma" or religion and righteousness. Speaking at the release of a book titled 'Tanjavarche Marathe', written by author Dr Milind Paradkar, he noted dharma does not mean just puja (rituals), but it is a broader concept that encompasses truth, compassion, 'tapascharya' (dedication). He maintained the word 'Hindu" is an adjective that personifies acceptance of diversities and emphasised India came into existence for a purpose and to push the idea of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The world is one family). Bhagwat pointed out that in the past "external" invasions of India were largely visible so people were alert, but now they are manifesting in different forms. "When Tata
Several non-government organisations working in Dharavi have pledged their support to the ongoing state government-led survey of informal tenants in Asia's biggest slum and accused non-locals of trying to stall redevelopment by spreading misinformation, according to letters they wrote to state government authorities. The NGOs have written to Dharavi Redevelopment Project/Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP/SRA), a government of Maharashtra body overseeing the USD 3-billion redevelopment project being executed by the Adani group, extending support for the survey. A total of eight NGOs and citizen welfare associations involved in diversified welfare activities ranging from health, education, women empowerment amongst others, met with DRPPL CEO and extended support of Dharavikars to the state-government-led survey currently being conducted in the area. While extending support to the survey, Noor Mohammed Khan of Global Giving Foundation and All India Police Jan Seva Sangathna asked the
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad claimed on Friday that police had detained her and many of her party workers ahead of their planned protest during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai. Modi is scheduled to address Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 in the city and lay the foundation stone of Vadhvan Port project worth around Rs 76,000 crore in Palghar on Friday, according to his office. The police are there at my residence since 7 am. They are not even allowing me to walk two steps. What can I say if asking (PM) to apologise or stage a silent protest is a crime. If questions cannot be asked to the country's prime minister, then whom should we pose our questions to, she said. The Mumbai Congress had planned a protest during PM's visit to Mumbai. We have been detained for raising our voice for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, for Maharashtra's pride. But we will not be deterred. The Prime Minister must apologise for the insult to our icon, Gaikwad, who is also the Mumbai Congress chief,
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of "bowing" before Delhi, and said the coming assembly elections are a fight against those who "hate" the state. Speaking at a party workers' gathering in Thane city, Shinde's bastion, he also accused the state government of "bribing" voters with the announcement of its flagship scheme Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana months ahead of the elections, due in October. Women should take benefit of the scheme as it is their own money, but should not compromise on self-respect, the former chief minister added. "They are bowing before Delhi," Thackeray said, attacking Shinde who heads the rival Shiv Sena, adding that the Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's struggle was about refusing to bow before Delhi. "The state assembly fight will be with the ones who hate Maharashtra," Thackeray added. Earlier, as Thackeray arrived for the event at the Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium here, workers of the ..
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has urged the state government to rename Alibaug as Maynaknagri' in memory of Maynak Bhandari, who played a crucial role in the naval prowess of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The coastal town of Alibaug near Mumbai is a tourist attraction and a municipal council in the state's Raigad district. Narwekar made the demand after a delegation of the All India Bhandari Federation recently met him with a request for the name change. Narwekar on Thursday wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stressing that during the reign of Maratha warrior king Shivaji, coastal security and coastal war campaigns were crucial to prevent foreign invasions. Shivaji Maharaj laid the foundation of a strong naval force, which Maynak Bhandari led from Konkan. The British had to retreat from the fort at Khanderi-Underi harbour in Alibaug after a bitter struggle and due to the bravery of Maynak Bhandari, he wrote. Narwekar also said that a statue of Bhandari should be .