Shivaji bonds House after Savarkar row

If the Savarkar portrait issue saw the BJP and the Congress snarling at each other, a statue seeks to patch them up. The statue of Maratha p...

If the Savarkar portrait issue saw the BJP and the Congress snarling at each other, a statue seeks to patch them up. The statue of Maratha pride Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be unveiled by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in front of the Speaker’s office in Parliament House on April 28.

The credit for ushering Shivaji in to the Parliament House goes to the Congress. In 2001, it was then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who sent a proposal to then speaker G.M.C. Balayogi for erecting Shivaji’s statue with his government paying for it.

Deshmukh did pick up the Rs 36-lakh bill for the over 18-feet-high bronze statue by Ram Suthar. The Congress would obviously not let go of this opportunity to endear itself to Maharashtrians.

For Speaker Manohar Joshi, it is a god-sent. The two men instrumental in installing the statue are out of the scene — Deshmukh, for having demitted office, and Balayogi, due to his death in an aircrash. Sena sources say the glitter of dignitaries ranging from Vice-President B.S. Shekhawat and Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee may be supplemented by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Canada, UK and Australia formally recognise a Palestinian state

World1 hr ago

The UK, Canada, and Australia have recognized Palestine as a state, going against the US and Israel's opposition. British PM Starmer aims to revive peace without Hamas and hostage release. Canada and Australia also recognize Palestine, condemning terrorism. Over 145 UN members recognize Palestine, with France likely to join soon.

View all shorts

Live Blog