Mumbai: Dealing with flak for his remarks drawing parallels between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday apologised, saying he didn’t intend to harm sentiments.
He reiterated that his remarks had been “intentionally distorted” to create social stress as a part of a malicious agenda by the BJP.
The Congress chief acknowledged on X that his unique remarks had been meant to advertise unity by displaying portraits of varied nationwide icons collectively in authorities workplaces.
He alleged {that a} portion of his speech was taken out of context and circulated on social media to falsely recommend that he had in contrast Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.
Noting that sentiments of some followers of Shivaji Maharaj had been damage, Sapkal mentioned he was apologising as he didn’t intend to harm emotions.
The controversy stemmed from a portrait of 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan displayed within the workplace of Malegaon Municipal Company deputy mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, which Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu outfits opposed.
Whereas pointing to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the best way he introduced the thought of ‘Swarajya’, Sapkal gave the instance of Tipu Sultan’s name for battle in opposition to the British and claimed this was a great articulated on the identical traces.
The alleged “comparability” led to the registration of an FIR in opposition to Sapkal in Pune and a pointy rebuke from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who mentioned the state is not going to tolerate any insult to Shivaji Maharaj.
Sapkal on Tuesday emphasised that Shivaji Maharaj stays his “perfect, inspiration, and delight”.
He clarified that he had solely acknowledged that Tipu Sultan drew inspiration from Shivaji Maharaj in combating the British and that historic contributions shouldn’t be used to divide society.
The Congress chief alleged that the BJP and its associates had run a misinformation marketing campaign to create spiritual discord.
He mentioned variations over historical past must be addressed via balanced and scholarly debate with out fuelling polarisation on spiritual or caste traces.
