Shivaji–Tipu row: 9 injured in BJP–Congress clash after Sapkal remark

NEW DELHI: At slightest 9 radical were injured connected Sunday aft a confrontation broke retired betwixt BJP and Congress workers successful Pune during a protestation implicit remarks made by Congress person Harshwardhan Sapkal that allegedly equated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Tipu Sultan.The clash took spot extracurricular the Congress Bhavan, wherever BJP workers had gathered to protestation against Sapkal’s comments. The concern escalated into sloganeering and chromatic pelting from some sides, starring to insignificant injuries.Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma said that 3 Congress workers, 2 BJP workers, 2 constabulary unit and 2 journalists were injured successful the incident."A protestation was held adjacent the Congress Bhavan, which saw sloganeering from workers of BJP and Congress.

Workers of some parties climbed onto walls and determination was chromatic pelting from some sides. Cases are being registered against workers of some sides," Sharma informed.Police deployed dense information successful the country to forestall further escalation.The contention stems from Maharashtra Congress main Harshwardhan Sapkal’s caller remarks, successful which helium referred to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and cited Tipu Sultan’s absorption against the British arsenic being connected akin lines.

The comments triggered governmental backlash successful the state.Speaking to reporters, Sapkal said: "The benignant of bravery that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed and the conception of 'Swarajya' (self-rule) that helium introduced... overmuch later, pursuing successful that precise contented and taking inspiration from his ideals, Tipu Sultan waged warfare against the British.""In that sense, Tipu Sultan was a large warrior who displayed immense bravery and was a existent lad of India.

He ne'er allowed immoderate poisonous oregon communal ideas to sway him. As a awesome of bravery, we should presumption Tipu Sultan arsenic equivalent to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," helium added.A time earlier, a abstracted enactment had erupted implicit a representation of Tipu Sultan displayed successful the bureau of the lawman politician of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation, which was opposed by Shiv Sena corporators and Hindu outfits.Pune metropolis Congress main Arvind Shinde said that the enactment has submitted a written ailment against BJP functionaries and demanded action.He said a lawsuit should beryllium registered against Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, BJP metropolis president Dheeraj Ghate, Dushyant Mohol and different workers.Speaking to PTI, Maharashtra Congress vice-president Mohan Joshi alleged that BJP workers initiated the violence."During the protest, stones were pelted astatine Congress workers and 2 sustained injuries. We are presently holding a sit-in protestation extracurricular the constabulary presumption successful Shivajinagar seeking action," helium said.Krishikesh Rawale, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), said that constabulary intervened promptly to forestall the concern from worsening.Meanwhile, BJP Pune metropolis portion president Dheeraj Ghate lodged a ailment against Sapkal astatine Parvati constabulary presumption for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. A FIR has been registered.The governmental speech intensified arsenic Maharashtra Congress person Sachin Sawant accused the BJP of “double standards” and pursuing a polarisation agenda.In a statement, Sawant cited past instances wherever BJP leaders had supported references to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan successful nationalist spaces and authoritative forums. He referred to resolutions passed successful civic bodies successful Akola and Mumbai and alleged that BJP leaders had earlier praised oregon associated with the humanities figure."What should this hypocrisy beryllium called? Tipu Sultan utilized to deterioration a ringing bearing the sanction of Lord Ram," helium claimed.Sawant alleged that the BJP was present portraying Tipu Sultan negatively to make spiritual divisions and prosecute successful “distorted spiritual politics”.He further cited examples, including a 2012 solution successful the Akola Municipal Corporation to sanction a hallway aft Tipu Sultan, a 2013 connection supported by BJP corporators to sanction a roadworthy successful Mumbai, and a 2001 roadworthy naming successful Andheri (West). He besides claimed that erstwhile Karnataka main curate BS Yediyurappa had visited Tipu Sultan’s tomb and written words of praise and that past President Ram Nath Kovind had praised Tipu Sultan successful the Karnataka Assembly successful 2017.