Nagpur/Buldhana, February 14 Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal sparked controversy on Monday by suggesting equivalence between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan, triggering fierce condemnation from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who called the comment "shameful".
Tipu Sultan remains a controversial figure in history, with some invoking his bravery in battle against the British, while others point to his bigotry and mistreatment of Hindus in several parts of South India. Conversely, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is universally admired for his military genius and administrative skills based on benevolence and social welfare.
Sapkal was speaking to reporters in Buldhana regarding the controversy over the portrait of Tipu Sultan in the office of Malegaon Municipal Corporation deputy mayor Shan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed, which was opposed by Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu organizations.
While highlighting the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the way he presented the idea of "Swarajya", Sapkal cited Tipu Sultan's call to battle against the British and argued that this was an ideal articulated on similar lines.
"In that sense, Tipu Sultan emerged as a warrior and a son of Bharat. He never embraced harmful ideologies. Instead, we should regard Tipu Sultan, as a symbol of valour, on par with Shivaji Maharaj," the Congress leader said.
Hitting out at Sapkal, Fadnavis said the comparison was condemnable and asserted that the Congress leader should feel ashamed.
"Maharashtra will not tolerate this. Sapkal should apologize for comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan. The Congress should take cognizance of this matter, and its allies must clarify their stance on Sapkal's statement," Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.
Later, in a post on X, Sapkal said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's valour is unparalleled, while Tipu Sultan was valiant and a lover of "Swarajya".
"It was by taking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an ideal that he (Tipu Sultan) fought against the British," Sapkal said in the post.
He further criticized those who follow the ideology of the Sangh-BJP, claiming they were slaves and spies of the British when Tipu Sultan was fighting against foreign rulers.
"Therefore, Devendra Fadnavis should not pretend to teach us history. The people of Maharashtra have not forgotten what all BJP-RSS, (former governor) Bhagatsingh Koshyari, along with others, spewed against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and disrespected him," Sapkal said.
Posting an image, the Maharashtra Congress chief said, "These are the pictures of both Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan on the original copy of the Constitution."
Meanwhile, senior Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe also criticized Fadnavis.
In a statement, Londhe said that the BJP was attempting to create controversy by focusing on the word "equivalent" used in Sapkal's comment on Tipu Sultan, and termed it a "desperate attempt" to stir communal tensions.
The ruling BJP was avoiding discussion on key issues such as unemployment, rising prices, farmer suicides, and increasing electricity tariffs in the state, he claimed.
"The Congress strongly condemns the attempt by the BJP leadership to divert public attention from governance-related issues by fueling religious polarisation," Londhe added.
