'Double standards': Congress posts ex-President Ramnath Kovind’s video ‘praising’ Tipu Sultan

PUNE: In the wake of the BJP’s targeting of the Congress after its state chief Harshwardhan Sapkal equated Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Congress on Monday countered the governing party by posting an old video of former President Ramnath Kovind, where he is seen praising the 18th century Mysuru ruler.

“Kovind gave the speech in the (Karnataka) assembly when it was a BJP-led govt in the state,” the Maharashtra Congress posted, claiming that the BJP was making Sapkal’s remarks an issue for political gains.


A political controversy broke out after Sapkal, during a media interaction on Saturday, said that historic figures like Tipu Sultan and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should be seen in the same league. The BJP, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, strongly criticised Sapkal. The controversy also led to violence in some places across the state, including Pune, where eight people were injured. The eight people were injured in stone-pelting during BJP and Patit Pawan Sanghatana’s protest in front of the Congress Bhavan in Pune on Sunday.

Responding to the criticism, Sapkal said, “My statement was twisted by the BJPfor political benefits. I said that there cannot be anyone like Shivaji Maharaj, and Tipu Sultan took inspiration from him. In fact, the BJP has double standards on Tipu Sultan. During the recently concluded civic polls, a photo of Tipu Sultan was on the banners of the BJP’s campaign rallies in some areas. If the descendants of Tipu Sultan join the BJP, they will also get some posts in the party.”

All-India Congress Committee secretary Sachin Sawant claimed that the BJP’s elected representatives from the Akola Municipal Corporation had initiated the proposal to name the standing committee’s office after Tipu Sultan.

The BJP hit back, claiming that the Congress had insulted Shivaji Maharaj and its explanation came after the party received flak. Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson of the state BJP, said, “It is the Congress’s dirty tradition to distort history for its political gains. There cannot be any comparison between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan. But Sapkal wants to equate Tipu Sultan with Shivaji Maharaj. It shows the politics of appeasement by Congress which we will continue to expose.”

Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule of BJP had on Sunday urged Rahul Gandhi to “seek an explanation from Sapkal.