Protests in Nagpur & beyond: Bawankule seeks Sapkal’s resignation while Telangana BJP counters Owaisi claims

Tipu-Shivaji Row Widens As BJP, Owaisi Trade Charges Over History & Hurt Sentiment

NAGPUR: A political confrontation over an alleged comparison between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan escalated on Sunday, drawing in leaders from Maharashtra and Telangana and setting off protests in Nagpur and other parts of the state with BJP demanding resignation of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Harshwardhan Sapkal.


Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule urged leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to “seek an explanation and demand his resignation without delay”, calling the alleged comparison an affront to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy. “Such remarks are unacceptable and an insult,” he said, adding silence from Congress would signal approval.

In Nagpur and elsewhere, BJP workers raised slogans and demanded an apology from Sapkal; some struck his posters with shoes in protest.

The dispute widened after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi defended the 18th-century Mysore ruler. “In 1799, Tipu Sultan died fighting the British,” Owaisi said. “He did not sit in jail and write love letters to the British.” He added the British feared Tipu even after his death, claiming his body lay for over 1 hour as soldiers hesitated to approach it.

Owaisi also questioned chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who slammed Sapkal on Saturday for comparing the legendary Maratha warrior with Tipu Sultan, asking whether it was not true that a ring associated with Tipu bore the name “Ram”, and referred to a 2014 auction in Britain. He cited former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s writing on rocket technology and said Tipu supported Hindu–Muslim unity, pointing to accounts of assistance to the Sringeri Mutt. “BJP is spreading only hatred,” he said.

Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao rejected Owaisi’s assertions. “By glorifying Tipu Sultan, the AIMIM is distorting history,” he said. He alleged Tipu persecuted Hindus in parts of Karnataka and Mysore, and said claims that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar sought British clemency were “false”. “India will never accept such a distorted history,” Rao said.

Bawankule reiterated Sapkal’s alleged comparison hurt public sentiment and called for accountability. “Such remarks are unacceptable and an insult to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said, adding silence from the Congress leadership would amount to tacit approval.

The guardian minister also questioned the stand of leaders in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, particularly Uddhav Thackeray. Rather than “accepting helplessness”, he said, Thackeray should reconsider remaining in the alliance if such remarks were tolerated. Referring to statements by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, he asked whether Thackeray agreed with equating Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan.

In a sharp personal attack, Bawankule said Sapkal’s remarks reflected poor judgement and such a leader should not continue in office. He alleged if Congress workers defend the statement, “the entire Congress party is insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”. The minister also referred to past controversies involving remarks on Shivaji Maharaj and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, calling repeated disputes over historical figures “a serious matter”.

Congress did not issue a detailed clarification on the matter so far. Party sources indicated that internal discussions were underway amid mounting political pressure. With demonstrations spreading and leaders trading charges over historical interpretation, the controversy shows no sign of abating.