Uproar over remarks against Shivaji Maharaj: CM raises Nehru’s book, Opp seeks action against actor

Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve questioned whether any action would be taken against actor Rahul Solarpurkar and one Prashant Koratkar for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Shivaji Maharaj.

On Wednesday, SP MLA Abu Azmi was suspended from the Assembly over his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb with the resolution of suspension saying that it amounted to  insult of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

Danve asked whether Azmi would be put behind the bars.

He also asked what kind of situation is it that Koratkar’s mobile phone is seized but he is not traced and arrested.

Responding to Danve, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that “no one who insults Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj would be spared by the government”.

“But I want to ask the Opposition. Will you condemn what is written about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s book ‘The Discovery of India’?” he said.

Furthering countering the MVA, he asked whether they would condemn NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad who used derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

This led to a commotion in the House, which was adjourned for 10 minutes due to loud sloganeering from both sides.

When the House resumed, the opposition again started raising slogans demanding action against Koratkar and Solapurkar.

The opposition entered into the veil and sat for around 20 minutes raising slogans leading to a commotion during the Question Hour.

The commotion stopped after, LoP Danve demanded time from Speaker Ram Shinde for a discussion on the issue and CM Fadnavis assured to discuss on the issue.